24 GARDENS AND THEIR MEANING 



and takes the risk of offering to his class the responsibility of 

 sketching out beforehand, as well as actually handling, a year 

 of gardening. These child types will vary according to natural 

 tastes, temperament, and power of initiative. Not all young 

 people, for example, will take hold of the gardening problem 

 with anything like the same ability or enthusiasm. There will 

 surely be a few who in their heart of hearts, though they may 

 not seemingly hold back, are indifferent or actually bored. It 

 is for a grown person to anticipate and deal with this attitude 

 without any regrets or coaxings. A good way is to substitute 

 without discussion some school work, of a more orthodox 

 stamp, peculiarly suited to the needs of those who prefer 

 reading or some similar task indoors. Freedom to take gar- 

 dening or to leave it will, more than anything else, sharply test 

 the genuineness of the situation, and prove conclusively that 

 the occupation of those out in the field is truly voluntary. As 

 experience shows, it almost inevitably happens that these in- 

 different ones will be drawn into the project by some real 

 and happy interest which had to be awakened gradually. A 

 large proportion of the class will probably, from the first mo- 

 ment, justify the optimism of a teacher by having a more or 

 less definite aim, together with no small amount of efficiency 

 and poise. Conspicuous among such children will be those 

 who in just the right kind of home life have been intrusted 

 with important errands, and have looked after the comfort 

 and safety of younger brothers and sisters. These young 

 folks may not be the ones who never trip in behavior or in 

 a spelling test, but they prove themselves, nevertheless, to be 

 miles ahead of any such little prigs in the ability to deal with 

 real issues. These children are quick to suggest courses of 

 action and to foresee those disasters which are ever descend- 

 ing out of a clear sky upon the inexperienced and improvident. 

 They grasp with all speed the idea of adjusting themselves 



