THE STUDY OF HORTICULTURE. 



BY J. C. BLAIR, 



Professor of Pomology and Chief in Horticulture, University of Illinois. 



ISSUED MONTHLY. 25 CENTS A YEAR. 



One cent a copy in quantities of ten or more. Send all orders to 

 Q ]y[ Parker, Taylorville, 111. 



Third Series, No. 8. Whole No. 32. 



; Reccv^ Taylorville, Illinois, April, 1903. 



[ 24 <?03 



/S'jCtj^V)^^ THE SCHOOL GARDEN. 



(Continuation of Lesson 6.) 



K f ter the seeds have been planted and school gar- 

 deners are waiting for the young plants to push their way 

 up to the light, teacher and pupils will still find much to 

 interest them in the soil. The suggestions given in the 

 November lesson were only to point out the paths which 

 might be followed if you cared to find out some of the 

 secrets of the soil. Once started soil experiments and 

 investigations prove so fascinating that you will be con- 

 stantly on the alert for something to add to your note- 

 book story of the soil. Take soil in hand instead of a 

 text-book and discuss its uses, texture, treatment; get at 

 the meaning of such terms as soil atmosphere, soil mois- 

 ture, etc. Study one by one Bailey's reasons for tillage 

 as quoted in the December lesson. Ask yourselves how 

 tillage can increase the ability of the soil to retain mois- 

 ture, how it can check evaporation. Read carefully Pro- 

 fessor E. G. Howe's article in the May School News en- 

 titled ''Watering the Garden With a Rake". This sur- 

 face working of the soil for the purpose of keeping the 

 moisture from escaping is one of the most important les- 

 sons to be learned in connection with our garden. How- 

 ever do not take any writer's say so but try for yourself 

 and see how your plants will behave if the ground is left 

 hard and, unworked, as compared with others growing in 

 well worked soil. 



