SOME LAST THINGS 



between the tearing down of an old building and 

 the building of a new. The garden made clear to 

 them what seeds and plants really do, and, one 

 season, a hen and five little chicks were an 

 added source of wonder and delight. 



It is possible to overemphasize the requirement 

 that a school garden should show excellent results 

 in gardening. But the truth that the develop- 

 ment of the child is more important than the 

 successful cultivation of the plants is one that may 

 defeat itself in large measure if we fail to remem- 

 ber two things; one, that the opportunity to have 

 any school garden at all another year may depend 

 upon the attitude of those who see it from a utili- 

 tarian or aesthetic standpoint; and another, that 

 a goodly number of the qualities and habits which 

 the school garden is to cultivate in the child are not 

 taught by untidiness, carelessness, sickly-looking 

 plants, spindling harvests and the[r consequent 

 discouraging effect upon the child. Kept within 

 limitations of size in area, of suitability in plants 

 and of the right amount of labor among children, 

 any garden should present a reasonable appearance 

 of success and owes it to the neighborhood and to 

 the children to do so. An intelligent supervision 

 that will compel a high standard of excellence is of 

 the first importance. So shall new school garden 

 ventures be encouraged, difficult ones made to seem 

 worth while, thje beauty of well ordered life and the 

 interrelation of its laws be made more apparent to 

 the minds of children while they spend fruitful 

 hours in the enjoyment of their gardens. 

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