GAEDENING FOR WOMEN 233 



statements may, I think, be relied upon as correct as far as 

 they go. 



1. Nature-Study is taught to some extent in the public 

 schools all over Canada (I am not quite sure about Quebec, 

 about which my information is imperfect, but I believe it 

 is probably true of that province also). In Nova Scotia, 

 which is a fairly representative province in such matters, 

 nature-study occupies a part of every day in all the schools, 

 and so far as my own observation goes, it seems to be 

 taught sensibly, and in a way to interest the children ; 

 they are made famihar with the growth of plants, the 

 habits of insects, the appearance, songs, and migration 

 of the different kinds of birds, etc., and are encouraged in 

 making simple nature-observation for themselves. In 

 the higher grades this teaching merges into more specifically 

 agricultural and scientific work. 



2. School gardens are becoming more numerous through- 

 out Canada ; Ontario probably takes the lead in this respect. 

 Sir William Macdonald, who is devoting very large sums to 

 the development of the more practical side of education, 

 has inaugurated a number of school gardens in Ontario, 

 Quebec, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and (I think) 

 British Columbia. 



As of possible interest in this connection, I may mention 

 a plan carried out by the Halifax Local Council of Women 

 to encourage a love of gardening among city children. 

 Seeds of six hardy varieties of flowers are bought wholesale 

 in the spring, and sold through the school teachers to 

 children desiring them at cost price. Each child for six 

 cents (threepence) got a package containing small packages 



