HOW TO LAY OUT A SCHOOL GARDEN. 



Bring tools to school. I'rcpare stakes, 14 inches long, ly^ by 1J4 inches, 

 sharpened at one end, three to each pupil. The stakes should be painted 

 white. With a tape measure, yardstick, stones or mallets, two or three balls 

 of string, and a plan, you are ready to lay out the gardens. Half a dozen 

 boys with work planned for each can lay out a plat a half acre in size in one 

 hour by using the following method: Two boys should measure and mark 

 off the four corners. One boy should follow, carrying stakes, another accom- 

 panying him to drive the same. One boy should carry string. Stretch the 

 string around the four corner stakes. Let boys with yardsticks measure off 

 distances according to the plan and mark the places for stakes on two sides. 

 See that the stakes are always driven on the same side of the string. Let 



boys with mallets and stakes 

 follow, driving stakes care- 

 fully in their proper places. 

 With the stakes driven on 

 opposite sides, others should 

 stretch string across, con- 

 necting the corresponding 

 stakes. The string need not 

 be broken at each stake. It 

 may be merely wound and 

 carried on to the next stake. 

 With stakes driven at their 

 respective distances at the 

 two remaining sides, treat as 

 above with the string. The 

 garden now has the appear- 

 ance of a great cobweb with 

 the string crossing in such a 

 way as to outline each gar- 

 den. The whole class may 

 now be used to drive stakes 

 at each intersection of the 

 string. Use great care to 

 drive the stakes perpendicularly and on the correct side of the string. With 

 the stakes in place, unwind the string. Do not let the string remain. It 

 stretches and is easily broken. 



How to prepare the individual seed beds. Assign the plats to the several 

 children. If the plat as a whole was not plowed and harrowed each child 

 must spade and otherwise prepare his plat. The primary children may need 

 considerable help from the teacher and the older children. See that the 

 spading is thoroughly done. 



The first few inches of loosened soil should be thoroughly worked until all 

 clods have crumbled. Use rakes and hoes as needed. 



It is taken for granted that the soil is moist and ready to be cultivated. 

 If rains have not so prepared the soil it must be irrigated. Corrugate the 

 plat with trenches six inches deep and close together. Fill the trenches with 

 water. Within forty-eight hours, very likely, the soil will work freely. 



Shape the plats so that edges are continuous. See that the plats are 

 slightly higher than the paths. They should slope from the center towards 

 the i)aths. 



Planting. Plant the seeds as soon as possible after the bed is prepared — 

 before the top soil has lost its moisture. See that rows are straight and 

 parallel. Use strings, straightedges, etc. Insist on careful plantings, since 

 success or failure is determined at this step. Do not let the children plant 

 too many seeds. See that the soil is carefully pressed over the seeds. 



Culture of the seedlings. Soon after the plants appear thin them out. 

 leaving the strong plants. The distance apart for the plants in the rows is 

 determined by the diameter of the root or the diameter of the head of the 

 mature plant. 



Irrigate as needed with the trench system. 



Cultivate often. Use the rake more and the watering pot less. 

 Harvesting. At the very outset discuss with the children uses for the 

 garden products. See "Junior Agriculturist." 



