io8 - CHILDREN'S GARDENS 



Don't water a little put on plenty or none. 



Don't work in wet soil with tools. 



Don't throw weeds in the path put them in a hand 

 carrier. 



Don't put extra plants in between the rows. 



The inexperienced teacher may have the most diffi- 

 culty the first few days after planting, because the 

 children are all eagerness and no established work is 

 under way. The first demand of the child is for active 

 work. 



Cleaning up. Let them give the whole garden a 

 general cleaning up. 



Planting observation plots. Have the observation 

 plots planted. This may have, to extend over several 

 days, doing a few each day. 



Cultivating stick. Have the children each make a 

 cultivating stick. This can be kept in the ground in 

 front of the plot stake. 



Garden lines. They can also make the small garden 

 lines. 



Sawdust boxes. Plant two or three boxes of saw- 

 dust with seeds like those in the children's plots. 

 Have the sawdust coarse, thoroughly wet and about 

 four inches deep. These can be left on the ground in 

 the garden. During the following week, the seeds will 

 sprout and the children can take them up and replace 

 them as often as they like, and note development. It 

 will satisfy their desirable curiosity and save their 

 plots. The roots of sawdust-grown plants are clean 

 and easy to examine. 



