GAEDENING FOR WOMEN 243 



as tlie special study of rotation of crops, values of fertilisers, 

 effects of spraying, selection of seeds, merits of soils, pro- 

 ductiveness and quality of different varieties of crops, and 

 many other similar subjects. At one school a special study 

 was made of corn, clover, tomatoes, and cabbage ; at another 

 beans, peas, beets, and potatoes occupied the experimental 

 plots ; and at still another, some extra attention was given 

 to plots of pumpkins, squash, cabbage, and cauliflower. 

 At all the gardens special plots will be devoted to small 

 fruits, such as strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, and 

 currants. The experimental plots vary in area from 

 200 to 2,000 square feet, but where the extent 

 of ground is restricted the experiments may be success- 

 fully carried out on plots of a much smaller average 

 size. 



The gardens are managed throughout on the basis of 

 individual ownership, individual effort and individual 

 responsibiHty on the part of the pupils. At all the gardens 

 the pupils are given plots that are solely their own. Ac- 

 cording to the age and strength of the pupils, these plots 

 vary in si5.e from 72 square feet to 120 square feet. At 

 some schools eactL pupil iias two plots, one for vegetables, 

 etc., and the other for flowers. In other cases the flowers 

 and vegetables are kept in different parts of the same plot. 

 The former plan presents no inconvenience, and is found 

 to contribute to the general appearance of the garden. At 

 one of the school gardens the pupils' plots were uniformly 

 10 feet wide by 20 feet in length, each plot being worked 

 in partnership, a junior pupil working with a senior pupil 

 in each case, Though very good results were secured by 



