CHILDREN'S GARDENS 



work must be progressive. An active, ambi- 

 tious, intelligent boy would tire of raising rad- 

 ishes year after year, if there were nothing in 

 it but raising radishes. But if he is led to 

 realize the relation of the roots to the soil; the 

 arrangement of the leaves for catching the sun- 

 light and shedding the rain; the assimilation 

 of nutrition and the storing of the food in the 

 root; the using of the food store in the root for 

 the production of the blossom and the matur- 

 ing of the seed; the effect of the perfect work 

 done by the plant upon the next generation of 

 plants; the results of blight and insects upon 

 the plants and the transmission of weakness 

 and disease — if the raising of a radish means 

 that to a boy, he has learned lessons of vital 

 importance — lessons that will influence him all 

 his life. 



It may be necessary to define the limits of 

 the garden. If it is for protection, a close wire 

 fence covered with vines will serve the purpose 

 and enhance the beauty of the garden. A hedge 

 always lends a charm and there are so many 

 quick-growing desirable shrubs that a hedge is 

 easily secured. 



The plan of the garden requires the greatest 

 consideration. Generally the space is so small 

 that to go into landscape-garden effects is im- 

 possible, and the best results are secured by 



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