SOME LAST THINGS 



as much a conscious factor as in any holiday 

 outing. 



If the children have become familiar with flower, 

 plant, weed and insect, with soil and the way it is 

 made from rock, a field excursion may be planned 

 to some good exploring ground, or better still 

 combined, if possible, with a visit to some histori- 

 cal site. A few playmates as guests of the entire 

 company increase the delight with which the 

 children enjoy making "finds" and explaining 

 them. Apart from this counter attraction outside 

 the garden, there are others for which more active 

 preparation will be needed. By fete days, ex- 

 hibitions and harvest homes the children testify 

 to the value of school gardening, offering as evi- 

 dence the work of their hands, the output of their 

 gardens, and carefully worked out plans to enter- 

 tain their guests. They like so well to do the latter 

 that it is best to have several children at a time 

 take turns in acting as guides to visitors to the 

 garden. This gives a fine opportunity to develop 

 courtesy. 



Not alone by their garden festivities do the 

 children show their approval of the school garden. 

 There are times when hard work unaccompanied 

 by prizes and plaudits is their testimony. Good 

 crops show careful preparation of soil and 

 cultivation, but do not necessarily tell how much 

 child labor and earnestness have gone into them. 

 In one city, the children cleared off seventeen 

 loads of rubbish in order to start their garden. 



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