PLANNING AND PLANTING THE GARDEN 



group gardens if they are to be for children work- 

 ing in groups only. But if the little gardens, for 

 instance, were 5x8 feet with their rows running 

 north and south so that the moving sun may dis- 

 tribute heat and light more evenly on the crops 

 than if they were planted from east to west, the 

 points marked off would run along the north and 

 south lines at 8 feet, 3 feet (for path), 8 feet, 3 feet, 

 and so on; and in the east and west directions, at 

 S feet, 3 feet, 5 feet, 3 feet, and so on. Mark these 

 points with stakes. These must be carefully set so 

 that each measure of bed or path shall be the exact 

 measure from the outside edge of one stake to the 

 outside "edge of the other.^ From the first, stress 

 must be laid upon this exactness of measure, else 

 the few inches in the width or even the edge of the 

 stake, will throw them, as well as the adult who 

 originally lays out the garden, into confusion, and 

 create irregular, uneven, undesirable lines which 

 will destroy all the symmetry the completed pic- 

 ture should silently and constantly teach. 



The actual making of both the paths and the 

 beds may be left to the children. The smaller 

 paths should be staked out. In doing this, stake 

 all those in one direction and then those at right 

 angles. The individual beds to the required num- 

 ber should be set off and numbered plainly by a 

 stake at the center of each plot, facing the head 

 of the garden. A few individual plots may be re- 

 served for the "waiting list," but only a few so as 

 to keep the children keenly eager for them. The 



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