30 GARDENS AND THEIR MEANING 



best account; consequently, there is no "fooling." A new 

 sort of. vitality leavens the whole school. If one word could 

 express._this, it would be the word "together." It marks the 

 beginning of conscious cooperation which all the restless 

 children of the world are calling for. 



But now to the garden. It is April, the long-looked-for 

 month for outdoor planting. Before this the plan of the 

 school garden will have been finally accepted by the class. 

 This is, of course, a composite plan. It is made up of contri- 

 butions from everybody. Only the inner circle will ever know 

 how many offerings, how many sacrifices of personal prefer- 

 ence, will have been made for the good of the whole. Even 

 the pedagogue's secret fears of how the garden will strike a 

 critical public have at last been set at rest. For great pains is 

 usually taken by the children to secure an attractive appear- 

 ance, although, it must be admitted, tastes differ ; and taste at 

 thirteen is not taste at thirty. Suppose, as sometimes happens, 

 the children set their hearts on a fantastic shell border or 

 rockery or arbor, the mention of which is enough to make 

 some teachers' blood run cold, for of all things a teacher 

 cannot bear to be thought crude. But what of it ? The essen- 

 tials of a good garden are not affected ; so why cheat the 

 world of one atom of the delicious spice of child life? More- 

 over^ this desire may mark a distinct stage in the children's 

 development. If so, may they not better pass through that 

 stage and satisfy the longing while yet children, than wait 

 to grow up and inflict upon the world what may be called 

 millionaire monstrosities ? 



As a result of some such management as has been pictured, 

 teachers have learned that with assistance, but no interference, 

 a tidy kitchen garden, bordered by some pretty color effects in 

 flowers, may be confidently expected, and that no one need be 

 alarmed if it should be emphasized, here and there, by some 



