amongst the Scottish Labourers. 533 



of the school would be interfered with, and interrupted, were a 

 method of school gardening teaching introduced : but it will 

 not be difficult to show the contrary. 



To introduce into our Scottish parish schools the teaching of 

 gardening to children, we should require, in the future ap- 

 pointment of all schoolmasters, a knowledge of the culture and 

 uses of all the common culinary vegetables and fruits, together 

 with a slight acquaintance with flowers ; and, to assist those 

 masters already appointed, but who may be ignorant of horti- 

 culture, the gardener of some landed proprietor in the parish, 

 or, if none in it, the gardener of some neighbouring heritor, 

 might be called in, to supply the want of information in these 

 respects. A knowledge of horticulture might easily be ac- 

 quired by all young men qualifying themselves to be parochial 

 schoolmasters, in a similar manner ; since scarcely a parish in 

 the southern parts of Scotland is without one or more resident 

 landed proprietors. These all possess gardens, and nearly all 

 keep a gardener. None of these proprietors would deny the 

 schoolmaster access to their gardens ; where he might learn, 

 under the direction of the gardener, all the practical useful 

 parts of common kitchen-gardening: and, where towns are 

 near, a more extensive acquaintance with the subject might be 

 obtained by frequenting the gardens of intelligent nurserymen, 

 who would, no doubt, do every thing in their power to facili- 

 tate so useful a design. 



Supposing, then, the schoolmaster possessed of the requisite 

 knowledge of common kitchen-garden cultivation ; his garden, 

 being increased to not less than half an acre of ground, should 

 be divided into portions. These divisions should be of such 

 a size as to admit, in each, of a regular rotation of the several ve- 

 getable crops to be raised. Over each plot or division of ground 

 a certain number of children, not too numerous, but so ar- 

 ranged that each individual might be able to put his little 

 hand to the work himself, should be placed. Rows of goose- 

 berry, currant, and raspberry bushes might separate the 

 divisions ; and a few apple, pear, and cherry trees might have 

 place, as standards, espaliers, and wall trees. On these, the 

 processes of budding and grafting could be exemplified. In 

 order that no interruption should be thrown in the way of the 

 regular business within the school, the cultivation of the 

 schoolmaster's garden by the children should be only carried 

 on in their play hours, and an hour on Saturdays, when all the 

 other business of the school had been got through, or when- 

 ever time could be spared. 



In order to secure complete success to this new branch of 

 parish school education, it will be necessary to interest all the 



M m 3 



