114 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



February, 



Botany and the Public Schools. 



yExtract of paper rea<t by Mr. P. Sewell before the 

 British Association at Neu'castle-07i-Ti/ne.] 



School Botanical Gardens may be con- 

 structed at a very slight cost, and the prac- 

 tical study ot botany be adopted with ad- 

 vantage in the training of even the youngest 

 children. 



The garden (flg. 1) to which we would first call 

 attention is in a boarding school near Edinburgh 

 Its whole area is not more than 7i) by 60 feet, and 

 its plan is the simplest possible, viz. : regular 

 pOws of beds, four feet in width, with narrow 



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Fig. 1.— Plan of Merchwton School Garden. 



References:— A, Rock Plants; b, b, b, General Collection: c. d, e, 

 Rubiaceae, Dlpsaceae, Valarlanaceae; f. g, Gramlneae, Cyper- 

 aceae, h, Composltae: i, j, Juncaceae, Llllaceae; k, Umbelll- 

 ferae; L, M, Irldaceae, Amaryllldaceae; x, o, Caprlfollaceae, 

 Onagraceae; p, y, Ericaceae, Campanulaceae; R, s. Saxlfraga- 

 ceae, Rlbes; T, Sediun. 1. 2, 3. Plumbaginaceae. Lythrimi. 

 Primulaceae; 4, Rosaceae: 5, 6, Convolvulaceae, Solanaceae; 

 7, Legumlnosae; 8, 9, Chenopodlaceae, Boraglnaceae; 10, 11, 

 Geraniaceae, Malvaceae; 12, Lablatae; l:i, 14, Caryophyllaceae 

 Resedaceae; 15, 16. Veronica, Scrophulariaceae; 17. IS, Cruci- 

 ferae. VIolaceae, 19. 20, 21, Urticaceae. Polygonaceae; Planta- 

 ginaceae: 22, 23, Ranunculaceae, Papaveracae; u, r, Musemn, 

 Laboratory, etc.; v, Lawn. 



gravel walks between. At one end is a small 

 collection of rock plants, where alpine rarities 

 flourish. Last July over 100 out of the 1.50 or 

 more species ot the gardeu were in bloom. 

 Although such profusion was highly attractive, 

 Mr. Mabbott, the Master, considers that sixty to 

 one hundred plants are quite sufficient tor such 

 a garden, and that more entails a needless amount 

 of labor upon those scholars who have been 

 appointed curators. The points to be gained are, 

 that there shall be a supply tor class purposes of 

 the types studied, and also that flowers repre- 

 senting the various orders shall be forthcoming 

 at different times of the year. 



The last instance of such botanical gardens is 

 with a high school near Manchester. The aim of 

 the trustees has been to direct attention to this 

 branch ot natural science. Botanical excursions 

 and elementary lectures have formed part of the 

 summer's work. In this instance, the purpose 

 of the garden allowed of simpler design and a 

 less expensive outlay than if it had been desired 

 merely to convert the half acre of land into an 

 ornamental garden. 



The details of construction were much those of 

 an ordinary garden. A pond allowed of the cul- 

 tivation of bog plants. For the botanical ar- 

 rangement ot beds a levelled piece of land was 

 sown over with grass seed, and the beds cut out, 

 according to accompan.vlng plan during the 

 winter 



The purchase of plants for these beds will not 

 cost more than S.'ii or $40; indeed it is probable 

 that, for the most part, they will be raised from 

 seed, or collected. 



The simplest and most advantageous form of 

 garden is that of narrow beds cut out from turf, 

 or separated b.v walks of gravel, brick-dust, etc 

 To devote a considerable space to the garden, it 

 is wisest to sow grass-seed where turf does not 

 already exist. The beds may be placed in 

 groups or in regular rows; shrubs and trees 

 in clumps will add in decorative value. 



The plants best suited for the beds are " hardy 

 perennials." Many of these may be raised from 

 seed, but it is desirable to introduce a few roots 

 of the more important plants 



The best label is of zinc l-16th inch or less In 

 thickness. 2'A by 2. The legs are of zinc-wire, 

 stout, 10 inches long, and soldered to back of 

 first piece. Face to be covered with thick coat 

 ot Aspinall's white enamel paint. This, when 

 dry, to be covered with black enamel paint, in 

 which, when yet viscid, the name scratched by 

 means of a blunt point. Larger wooden labels 

 may also be obtained for the natural orders if 

 desirable to set in the beds. 



H Where the boys or girls can be per- 

 suaded to take an interest in the tjeds 



there should be no difficulty in keeping 

 the garden tidy at very trifling expense. 

 Where the boys are taught the ele- 

 ments of agriculture and gardening, they 

 noticeably take a greater amount of in- 

 terest in the results ot their outdoor 

 lessons than in any other. 



Mr. Dyer writes relative to this subject 

 of school botanical gardens: "My idea is 

 that a much more real interest is taken 

 in a school garden if the pupils have a 

 hand in getting together the plants. The 

 best way to do this is by collecting the 

 seeds and raising them. To take advent- 

 age of outings to the country as occasions 

 to collect seeds for the school garden 

 would in itself be a very valuable lesson. 

 The following is a list of the natural 

 orders suitable for a smaller school gar- 

 den. The numbers of species refer to 

 those that may be taken as representa- 

 tive types; Ranunculacea?, 20; Composita;. 

 1.5; LiliaceaN 12; Scrophulariaceiv, 12; Leg- 

 uminosie, 10; Rosacese, 8; Crucifera», 6; 

 Caryophllacea?, 6; Papaveracea>, 6; Um- 

 belliferip, 3; Saxitragacea?, 6; Geraniacea;, 

 6; Campanulacea?, 6; Primulacete, 6; Ru- 

 biaceae, 3; Boraginacen?, 2; Labiata", 2; 

 Polygonacea?, 2; AmaryllidaceiP, 3. 



ViolacesB, Resedacea?, Onagrace*, Am- 

 entacese, Conifera?, Graminea>, and Jun- 

 cacese, might be represented with ad- 

 vantage by one or two species. Also 

 Berberis, Linum, Lythrum, Tamus, Con- 

 volvulus, and Solanum. 



Of the older system, Professor Huxley 

 at the meeting at the Manchester Town 

 Hall in 1887, said; "No one can doubt 

 that this system of primary education 

 has done wonders, but it has the effect of 

 being too bookish, too little practical. 

 The child is brought too little into contact with 

 actual facts and things, and as the system stands 

 at present, it constitutes next t« no education 

 of those particular facul- 

 ties which are of the ut- 

 most importance to indus- 

 trial life. I mean the 

 faculty of observation, 

 the faculty of working ac- 

 curately, of dealing with 

 things instead ot words." 



The study of elementary 

 botany might he engaged 

 in by children even of the 

 youngest years, so long as 

 this study were made 

 practical, i. e. so long as 

 they had placed before 

 them plants which they 

 should learn to distinguish 

 one from another, and 

 from which they should 

 learn the uses of the vari- 

 ous modifications ot roots, 

 stems, leaves, flowers or 

 fruits, &c. 



The probable interest of 

 such study of science 

 would be increased were 

 the instruction given with 

 reference to a small botan- 

 ical garden, where not 

 merely botanical teaching 

 might be imparted, but 

 where the child might be 



grounded even in the elements of horticultural 

 and agricultural knowledge the growth of root 

 and cereal crops might be shown from a very 

 small garden. A real respect for the methods 

 and achievements of scientific men* might be 

 given; and, each child might be made to feel 

 that he too, migh become an accurate scientific 

 observer of Nature. 



Doings of the Missouri State 

 Horticultural Society. 



ROBERf T. BAILEY, C.iLLAWAT CO., MO. 



Vinegar Making. At the recent meeting 

 held in Lebanon a paper on "Vinegar as a 

 by-product of the orchard" was read by 

 Charles Patterson, bringing to light the fact 

 that nearly all the vinegar sold is made 

 from chemical acids. It is sold so low and 

 looks so clear and nice to the eye that it is 

 difflcult to get genuine pure cider vinegar 

 into the market in competition with it. Yet 

 all of it is marked on the barrels "Pure 

 Cider Vinegar," " Pure Fruit Vinegar," 

 "White Wine Vinegar," or such false label. 

 Vice-President N. F. Murray found that gro- 

 cerymen did not like to sell the genuine vinegar, 

 for when their customers once used it they were 

 not satisfied to take any thing else. In order to 

 create a demand you must have a supply suffi- 

 cient to fill that demand when is created. 



Mr. E. T. HoUister thought it would be very 

 difficult to introduce pure vinegar unless we 

 pass laws requiring the merchants to sell his 

 grades for Just what they are. 



Mr. Patterson introduced his vinegar into his 

 town by filling small bottles and leaving one at 

 every house, telling them where they could get 

 such vinegar at the stores. The people are more 

 ready to make the change than the grocers, but 

 the latter found that it drew buyers to keep the 

 pure article for their customers. He thought 

 gain for the horticulturist would be small com- 

 pared with that of the consuming public in 

 being saved from the injurious effects of poison- 

 ous chemicals. Every man that goes to market 

 with his Jug wants cider vinegar, and he would 

 go home with it empty were he told that he 

 could get only acid vinegar. 



The legislature was asked to pass a law re- 

 quiring goods to be sold by their true name. 



Traksportation. Mr. Murray thought it of 

 but little use to grow fruit and let the carrier 

 have all the profits. He considered this question 

 of transportation the darkest cloud hanging over 

 the producers of this country. 



Prof. Clark Columbia thought it best to go to 

 the transportation companies beforehand and 

 state the case, and make the best terms you can 

 Sec. Goodman wanted the subject to be con 

 tinually agitated. Let the local societies pass 

 resolutions asking for lower rates. 



Levi Chubbuck, Sesretary ot the State Board 

 of Agriculture, said " It is no use to make a 

 request of railroads unless they can see some- 

 thing in it for themselves." 



The Profits. A paper on the "Profit and 

 Loss in Orcharding," by Dan. Carpenter, made 



30 ,60 ,70 ,80 90 .100 



.J 



REFERENCE.S:— 2, Rublaceae; 3, Valerianaeeae: 

 4. Polemonlacea; 5, Gentlanaceae; 6, Dlpsaceae"< 

 7. Lablatae: 8. Boraglnaceae: 9, Campanulaceae; 

 10, Primulaceae: II. Vacant; 12, Ericaceae: 13. 

 Convolvulaceae; 14. Scrophulariaceae: (the large 

 unnumbered triangular bed In the upper left 

 hand corner of the plan Is devoted to Compo- 

 sltae); 16, Legumlnosae: 17, Rosaceae: 18, Coma 

 ceae: 19, Lythraceae; 20. Onagraceae: 21, Caprlfo. 

 ilaceae; 23, Araliaceae; 23. Rosaceae- 24. Umbelll- 

 ferae; '25. Saxlfragaceae; '26, Crassulaceae: 27, 

 Geraniaceae; 2^. Malvaceae: '29, Chenopodlaceae, 

 30. Caryophyllaceae; .31. Polygonaceae: 32, Papa' 

 veraceae, 3;i, Fumarlaceae; 34, Hypericaceae; 

 35, Cruclferace; 36. VIolaceae 37, Resedaceae: 3S 



Ranunculaceaae: 3Vt. Berberidaceae: 40, Gramiuceae; 41, Llllaceae. b. Calyciflorae. 

 c, Thalamlflorae: D, Monocotyledons: e. Kitchen Garden: f. Border; Janitor's* 

 Hoube. 



Fig. 2— Plan of Dumferllne Hehool Qanlai. 



quite a stir. He gave the amount of his expense 

 on his fruits and the receipts from their sales for 

 a period of thirteen years showing that the net 

 annua] profits per acre, allowing interest on the 

 amount of the investment at eight per cent, 

 with him had been f2 50. 



J. G. Kinder thought that if $2.50 per acre is the 

 measure of the profit of fruit growing they had 



