THE SCHOOL GARDEN 273 



first year. It is not necessary to plant all the seeds at one 

 time. The less hardy ones should be sown later. Mark each 

 row with a wooden peg on which the name of the plant sown 

 is written. This will also help to tell where the last seeds 

 were planted. 



Cultivation: Each pupil or group in charge of a bed 

 should be held responsible for its care. Weeds need to be 

 constantly pulled or hoed. Hoe in the walk and pull in the 

 rows. Teach the children to distinguish weeds from the 

 plants cultivated. Give lessons on weeding and hoeing. 

 It is best to hoe weeds on hot dry days, for then they will not 

 be so apt to strike root again, but will dry up. Weeding by 

 hand should be done when the soil is damp, for then the roots 

 of the weeds pull better. Make studies of the common 

 weeds as they appear. Teach how to recognize them in the 

 early stages, and describe their appearance later, the harm 

 they do, and the best way to get rid of them. Hoeing or 

 loosening the soil with the rake or hand weeder is necessary 

 even if there are no weeds, for this breaks up the hard crust 

 of earth and pulverizes it so that it retains the soil moisture 

 better. It acts as a kind of mulch and helps the roots in 

 penetrating the soil. After several years of good cultivation 

 the weeds will not be so abundant, especially if commercial 

 fertilizer is used. Manure that is not well rotted is apt to 

 contain many weed seeds. 



Watering: This may be necessary to make the seeds 

 sprout, but later it is not so necessary. In very dry 

 periods it should be done thoroughly. A little thin sprink- 

 ling on very dry soil does no good, and simply helps to cake 

 the surface. Put on plenty of water to thoroughly drench 

 the soil. It is better done at evening, for then the sun 



