SCHOOL DEPARTMENT 



Edited by ALICE HALL WALTER 



Address all communications relative to the work of this depart- 

 ment to the Editor, 67 Oriole Avenue, Providence, R. I. 



A PRACTICAL GARDEN CLASS 



In the last issue of Bird-Lore a brief description of a very successful 

 Audubon exhibit at a food fair was given, as an illustration of practical methods 

 of bringing the pubHc into touch with bird welfare. 



A more lasting and therefore more valuable method has been worked out 

 by a garden class in Lyndon, Vermont, whose annual exhibition attracted wide 

 interest last fall. To quote from the county paper may give in more vivid 

 form the impression which the average visitor on that occasion had: 



"Monday was a great day for the busy workers of the Lyndon garden class. 

 The big demonstration of the results of their industry shows how the garden 

 class grows. It is a veritable modern instance of Jack's bean-stalk, for this 

 was only the third annual exhibition, and yet it was attended by hundreds of 

 interested people, addressed by the state's most distinguished public men, 

 and participated in by scores of thrifty children, who have been taught to take 

 pride and pleasure in their work, and have learned the real value of it and its 

 important part in the modern scheme of community life. 



"The fair was held on the green at the Lyndon tea-shop, and the splendid dis- 

 play of vegetables, fruits and animals represented over a hundred school gar- 

 dens in which nearly twice that number of children have been directly inter- 

 ested the past season, and have great reason to be proud of the fine showing 

 made at the fair. 



"There was a fine display of poultry, calves, ponies, pigs, sheep, and a big 

 line of pens containing pets of all kinds, including cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea- 

 pigs, chipmunks, coons, and even foxes. 



The tables, sixty of them, were spread with a tempting array of vegetables 

 and flowers. There was a fine exhibit of bread, cake and cookies, butter and 

 cheese, school lunches, an interesting display of woods and seeds, and the 

 policing of the grounds was successfully accomplished by a score of scarecrows, 

 as hfelike as they were grotesque and effective. 



' Several tables were devoted to an exhibition of drawings, including draft- 

 ing plans, pen-work, sketches and cartoons. 



"a pavilion was filled with a tempting array of canned goods, including 

 jelhes, fruits and vegetables, and an interesting part of the day's program was 

 a demonstration of canning of fruits and vegetables. 



"One of the most attractive exhibits was the long table trimmed with maple 



(46) 



