8 SCHOOL AND HOME GAUDENING 



interest thoroughly aroused before schools close for summer 

 vacation, the gardens will be much better taken care of. The 

 care of the school garden during summer vacation should be 

 assigned to some few students or to a janitor or to a committee 

 or to a neighbor appointed for the purpose. In some cases 

 each pupil will faithfully take care of his own portion of the 

 school garden during vacation; but too frequently this plan 

 fails. 



The garden crops that mature during vacation will furnish 

 compensation to the persons who care for the whole garden. 



Whether there be a good school garden or not, it is always 

 possible to plan some good vacation gardens for the pupils to 

 use. These should be planted either at home or, for city 

 children, vacant lots may be used. Let the planting be done 

 at the proper times in the spring while school is in session and 

 have reports made from time to time. >. 



School Teachers the Best Leaders. — Any teacher, with 

 a desire to help the school and the young people of the com- 

 munity, will succeed better in the garden work than a profes- 

 sional gardener. It is not at all necessary to hire a gardener 

 for the purpose. The suggestions and advice of such persons 

 are often helpful, but the teacher will have to adapt the 

 suggestions to the school conditions. 



The trained teacher can work out the plans and carry on 

 the work better than any one else. The teacher is in sympathy 

 with the child's mind and understands his point of view. 

 Together they will overcome all difficulties and make the 

 garden a success (see Chapter XXIII). 



THE GARDEN 

 (Arthur Wallace Peacli in Orange Judd Fanner) 



Calm in the winter hush it lay asleep 



Beneath a, downy coverlet of snow; 

 I saw the twilight shadows o'er it creep, 



And heard the storm winds shouting to and fro. 



