CHILDREN'S GARDENS 41 



near to the soil, where they can see many things, like 

 small weeds and insects, which they would not, if 

 standing up. In Children's Gardens where the plots 

 are quite small the cultivating stick will do all of the 

 work necessary after the planting, and can be made 

 to take the place of the hoe, rake and trowel. It is 

 made by the children themselves. In some Gardens 

 where there is no money to purchase tools all the 

 first preparation of the Garden can be done with bor- 

 rowed tools and these cultivating sticks can finish 

 the work throughout the season. 



If these sticks are made .of hard wood, like oak, 

 they will prove more serviceable, but the child should 

 learn to use whatever wood is at hand, selecting the 

 best. The finding out by use that hard wood will 

 hold a point when soft wood will not, or that the 

 end of a stick can be pointed by burning and rub- 

 bing, when no knife is available, and that its point 

 is harder because of the burning, makes excellent 

 nature study. 



Children using a stick the size of a lead pencil have 

 gained manual dexterity which has been of direct bene- 

 fit in teaching them to write and draw. The effect 

 on deficient children has been especially noticed. 



Garden lines. The garden line is very important 

 and is too often neglected in Children's Gardens. It 

 should be used wherever a straight line is desired, 

 and for making curves and circles. In placing the 

 line the stick at each end is pushed into the ground 

 until the line is down to or just under the surface, 



