PREFACE 



In 1902, Mrs. Henry Parsons started the First 

 Children's School Farm in New York City, on the 

 vacant lots at the foot of West 53rd Street, where 

 to-day is the beautiful DeWitt Clinton Park. 



As years went on, she learned of the work of others, 

 and that the use of the garden in the education of 

 children, was begun at least as far back as five hun- 

 dred years B.C. Many of the ideas and practices 

 which she initiated, found their main difference from 

 that of others in her viewpoint of the purpose of the 

 work; that the garden was to foster the growth of 

 children as its main object, instead of being principally 

 to teach them how to grow plants. 



This new viewpoint has vitalized the work, and 

 given it a reason for more general use than it ever 

 had before, and as a result, wherever children are 

 being educated, the possibility of having a garden is 

 now being considered, and in those states and coun- 

 tries where primary education is showing the most 

 advancement, there will be found the largest number 

 of Children's Gardens. During the past few years, 

 they have increased rapidly in number, and from 

 now on, they are destined to play an important part 

 in the education of children. 



