THE SCHOOL GARDEN 267 



whether group or individual, and make a plan on paper of the 

 garden area. Measure the whole area to be used, and divide 

 it among the different grades that are to do gardening. The 

 lower grades do not need such large beds, and where space 

 is limited they may work on a bed as a class or by groups. 

 The children are to do the work of surveying, as it gives 

 them good practice in practical arithmetic and measurement. 

 Let them represent in a plan the whole school garden and 

 their particular portion. Then have them take the class gar- 

 den and divide it up among the children of their class who 

 are to do the work. The garden, if all in one piece and large, 

 should have a walk all around, from two to five feet wide, 

 and also walks of about the same width between the rows 

 of beds. The individual beds should preferably run east and 

 west, and be planted with crosswise rows, to give the best 

 distribution of light. The beds should be oblong rather 

 than square. Make them four or five feet wide and as long 

 as space will allow. The individual beds should be sep- 

 arated by walks about eighteen inches wide. Long and 

 narrow beds permit of easy weeding and hoeing from the 

 paths. The class garden, and individual or group beds, 

 should be well marked with stout stakes at the corners. 

 Use a tape-measure and marking-line , and be careful about get- 

 ting the lines straight and square. Later, after the seeds are 

 selected, let each pupil plan and mark off his own bed. The 

 beds should be named or numbered on one of the posts. 

 The little children will need a good deal of help in this, and 

 even the older ones will need watching to see that they follow 

 directions. A garden note-book for writing the various 

 directions for work would be useful. Be very specific in 

 giving directions. 



