270 NATURE-STUDY 



the money. Well-equipped schools with large gardens 

 should furnish the money for the seeds. As a rule, seeds for 

 home growing should be purchased by the children them- 

 selves. In many cities there are associations or social settle- 

 ment societies that sell the seeds to the children practically 

 at cost. The local civic improvement society may be induced 

 to undertake such assistance. Such work is done notably 

 by the Cleveland Home Gardening Association, and also by 

 the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. On application 

 the United States Department of Agriculture sends out gratis 

 to schools a limited number of flower and vegetable seeds. 

 A useful bulletin on gardening also accompanies them. 

 Order early, and state definitely the kinds and the quantity 

 of seeds wanted. (See directions for different grades under 

 Gardening in the Course of Study.) 



PLANNING THE PLANTING : Let each pupil or group arrange 

 the planting of the individual or group bed. Make a plan 

 on paper. A uniform plan should be required. The size 

 of the plant and the light conditions must be taken into 

 account. The flowers should be planted in the front, ex- 

 cept the very tall ones, which should be placed in the 

 rear of the lower or, at any rate,, on the north side, so as not 

 to cut off the light from the rest. Tall sunflowers, holly- 

 hocks, corn, etc., and vines, should be planted against the 

 fence or building, if the garden is there. The rows should be 

 at least wide enough to allow hoeing, and a foot apart would 

 not be too much for the average. The larger plants, such 

 as tomatoes, cabbages, and running vines must have pro- 

 portionate room. If planted between rows of the early 

 maturing kinds of vegetables, they may be given more room 

 later by pulling up the others. 



