INTRODUCTION 9 



will be desirable, in order that the memoranda of dates may 

 be made at the proper time. 



Plans and Problems 



School gardens should present in concrete form the best 

 ideals for home gardens and grounds. It is desirable, there- 

 fore, that the design and planting plans for the surroundings 

 of a new school, or for the betterment of an old school-yard, 

 should be prepared by a landscape gardener employed for 

 the purpose. Where this is not yet possible, a superin- 

 tendent or principal should take special pains to study the 

 conditions of a school-yard and its surrounding homes, then 

 apply the principles of general landscape gardening as pre- 

 sented in the completed development of school grounds else- 

 where. The work of carrying out these plans should be 

 done by the pupils, in the course of a series of years, that they 

 may properly profit thereby, and protect as their own these 

 improvements. 



In general, lawns bordered by shrubbery and hardy flower- 

 ing plants, with vines clothing the walls of the school building, 

 should characterize the school grounds next the street, a 

 type of good home grounds. The out-door school gardens 

 are best placed at the side of the school buildings, when a 

 sunny exposure is possible there, separated from ample 

 playgrounds in the rear with their bordering shade trees. 

 For many schools and teachers, however, the practical prob- 

 lem must be that of accomplishing results with little encour- 

 agement at first and under difficult conditions. But there, 

 too, a fine and fit ideal, wisely set forth in practicable plans 

 according to which one may work, is essential to economy of 

 effort and to full success. 



