REPORT OF C03IMITTEE ON SCHOOL GARDENS, ETC. 239 



has beeu of uunsual excellence, aud reflected great credit ou the 

 teachers and children. 



Among the choice native shrubs are a seedling catalpa from the 

 Swan School Garden, and a fine plant each of Kalmia latifolia 

 (mountain laurel) and Rhododendron maximum^ the gift of Miss 

 Davenport, who resigned her position as teacher in the school in 

 September, in order to assume other duties elsewhere. 



The school is fortunate in having for its garden so earnest a 

 worker as Miss Jones, who is striving to improve it in every way 

 that she can ; so helpful a sub-committee as Mr. Charles M. Jones ; 

 and so appreciative a friend as Superintendent Morss, who holds 

 this work at its true value and encourages it all that he can. 



The garden has been put into first-class condition for the winter ; 

 new beds have been made for next season's planting ; the old beds 

 have been thoroughly fertilized with rich mould, and a number of 

 extra plants already bedded in. 



It is Miss Jones's intention to make the garden more useful than 

 ever another year, and she hopes to have some photographs made 

 showing some of the beds and the children at their work. 



Respectfully submitted, 



George E. Davenport. 



OTHER SCHOOL GARDENS. 



The school garden is being recognized in a few places, besides 

 those already mentioned, as a valuable educational adjunct. In 

 the spring one will be started in Stoneham and another in East 

 Braintree. The Superintendent of Schools in the latter place has 

 invited some member of the School Garden Committee to give a 

 talk on the subject in that place. 



The Robert G. Shaw Garden will take a new lease of life in the 

 spring, now that the city of Boston finds itself in such a finan- 

 cial condition, after a wearisome period, as to warrant the grading 

 of the grounds. 



A letter ou the subject of school gardens was received from a 

 very enthusiastic principal living in one of the Gulf States. In 

 some way he came across a copy of the Transactions of this So- 

 ciety, and therein saw an account of a school garden, which kin- 

 dled his enthusiasm to a high pitch. He solicited advice in regard 

 to laving out a garden an acre in extent. As that was a little 



