CHAPTER V 



A WORD FOR GOOD TOOLS 



Through cunning, with dibble, rake, mattock, and spade, 

 By line and by level trim garden is made. — Tusser 



When the children's school farm in New York City was 

 started, the children were equipped with just one tool — a clam- 

 shell. With this insignificant weapon, as the whole school- 

 gardening world knows, they made a splendid attack. But 

 even a ten-year-old child, as he goes on improving, wants the 

 right tools. He wants them so much that he will do a good 

 deal on his own initiative toward getting them. So in the 

 spring, when youngsters begin to discuss tools with the 

 same eagerness as they do bats and marbles and are found 

 poring over catalogues away past bedtime, it is the moment 

 for a grown-up to step in and offer his experiences, and show 

 them how to make their pennies go farthest. 



When enthusiasm is at the full, one teacher makes a prac- 

 tice of inviting his class to visit with him one of the great 

 agricultural supply houses. Here are stacked a truly bewil- 

 dering assortment of implements and machines. Young 

 people enter a new world ; they cannot help being fascinated 

 by these complicated and ingenious inventions. Of course 

 they must examine all the articles in detail, and handle every- 

 thing, lingering always longest, to the concern of the teacher, 

 over tools which have fine-cutting edges. The obliging dealer 

 will be peppered with questions. All at once the children 

 begin to grasp what this tremendous industry stands for. 

 They learn, besides, that agricultural machinery constitutes 



76 



