no THE SCHOOL GARDEN BOOK 



difficult when it is present. In modelling the clay you must 

 learn to use wet fingers to keep the surface smooth. 



The result, so far as beauty is concerned, depends almost 

 as much upon the painting of the surface as it does upon the 

 modelling. The enamel paints which one may get from any 

 dealer are likely to be too brilliant in color for use without 

 toning down. You may easily accomplish this by mixing 

 black or white or gray with the various colors you wish to 

 modify. The inside of the jar may be painted with plain 

 white, or, better, with gray, while the outside may be toned 

 to suit your fancy. Very attractive results may be secured by 

 painting the outer surface in gray green or brown or some 

 other subdued color and then running around the top an- 

 other harmonizing color, letting the latter run down over the 

 former here and there around the jar. 



If you have had no opportunity to study the laws of color 

 harmony, it will be well worth while to get some book upon 

 the subject and learn the principal harmonies. Some color 

 tones combine much more attractively than others, as you 

 will soon find by a little experimenting in the painting of 

 the jars. It will be safer in beginning to keep to gray-greens 

 and subdued browns rather than to try the reds and yellows. 

 After the painting is finished the jars are to be set aside again 

 to harden. This will require several days, the time depend- 

 ing somewhat upon the kind of paint used. AA^hen dry there 

 should be no cracks in the surface and the jar should be so 

 firm as to be handled without danger of breaking. 



SEED TESTING 



It is often well worth while for a gardener to know before 

 he plants his seeds what percentage of them will be likely to 



