XIV INTRODUCTION 



garden movement is of recent origin, but 

 it is gaining ground rapidly. 



As sixty-five per cent, of our exports 

 are products of the farm, it is almost 

 alartning to think that so few of our 

 children know anything about them. 

 One reason why nearly ninety per cent, 

 of the successful business men of to-day 

 were brought up on the farm is because 

 of the productive industry taught in 

 early childhood in farm life. There is no 

 kind of training that squares itself for 

 all-round development like agriculture. 

 The farmers' boys are brought up to use 

 their hands as well as their heads, and 

 learn quick observation and quick decision, 

 which is of great value to them throughout 

 their lives. The child's garden certainly 

 brings his life more nearly to that of the 

 country child than any other form of 

 study. As an aid to nature-study there 

 is nothing to equal it. It can be used to 

 help in nearly every other branch of 

 study taught in the schoolroom. The 

 practice in measuring and marking out the 



