THE SCHOOL GARDEN 279 



be given to the beautification of the school grounds with 

 flower beds, borders, etc. These should be filled with 

 bedding plants and left largely to the care of the pupils, 

 different groups taking care of different beds. Such beds 

 require changing of the plants when the first lot have 

 finished flowering. In the fall, bulbs should be set for early 

 spring flowering. They make a most beautiful effect when 

 placed rightly. After these have withered they should be 

 taken up, or later flowering plants should be set among the 

 bulbs. Sometimes it is more advisable to plant foliage plants 

 that are not conspicuous for their flowers, but produce ele- 

 gant effects with their beautiful large leaves. Place such 

 beds around the edges of the grounds, along the walks, in 

 angles of the buildings, along fences, etc. A very good 

 place for border beds is in front of shrubbery. In such beds 

 it is well to take into consideration color schemes. The 

 proper colors should be placed beside each other, comple- 

 mentary colors, as a rule, setting each other off to advantage. 

 Often it is better to have the beds just one color — white, pink, 

 or yellow. This is better than having a great variety of colors. 

 Low spreading plants like sweet alyssum, verbena, and portu- 

 laca are good for borders along the walks, and in front rows 

 of beds or borders along shrubbery or fences. Behind them 

 should come the taller forms in succession. In such borders 

 it would be well to select the plants so that some of them 

 would be in blossom all summer. Plants that have with- 

 ered or are through flowering should be removed or cut 

 off. It is generally better for plants to have the flowers 

 picked, for if allowed to go to seed they will stop blooming 

 sooner. This applies especially to sweet peas, nasturtiums, 

 and pansies. A few of the best developed of the earlier 



