IN VACATION AND TERM TIME 



but its place as an economic grain in the world's 

 markets should come after some idea of geography, 

 of material resources, and of the inter-relation of 

 men and states has been obtained. 



Another method is to use plants to illustrate 

 hygiene in the sixth grade and physics in the 

 seventh, adding in the eighth specialized studies 

 of the relations of plants and of their historic 

 and commercial value. 



From these illustrations some generalizations 

 as to the adaptability of school gardening to the 

 different grades may be drawn. Children be- 

 low the fifth or even the sixth grade require very 

 simple garden operations unless they have been 

 gradually led up to the handling of fine seed 

 and the care of delicate plants. In small groups, 

 they will do well working together on class plots, — 

 do better gardening work, unless there is ample 

 time and the competent and thorough supervision 

 given to the individual plot culture which is always 

 the. desideratum. Kindergarten children can be 

 effectively managed if each step of bulb or seed 

 planting is taken separately and required to be 

 completed by all before the class passes to the 

 next. Much of it, like the dropping of seed and the 

 placing of bulbs, can be done by the class in mili- 

 t ary file. If a long straight board is used to 

 place over the freshly covered seeds, the children 

 marching on it may firm them down. The same 

 board may be used for the children to stand on 

 while making their furrows along its edge and while 



25' 



