L. L. MAY & CO. 
ST. PAUL, MINN. 
drawing to scale, and, for the school garden, get the size 
of your lot, and determine the number and size of the plots 
you wish to divide it into. 
Allow for one central community 
bed where flowers may be arranged wholly with an eye to 
beauty. A large Castor Bean in the center, with other flowers, 
grading down in size to low growing border plants near the 
walks, will be most etfective, and will greatly improve the 
appearance of the whole garden. 
Eectangular plots 4. x 8 feet for the smaller children, 
or 5x 15 for the larger, will be found most satisfactory, never 
wider, that weeding and cultivating may be done without 
trampling on the beds. Main walks should be from 3 to 4 feet 
m width, and those between beds about two feet, as many 
varieties of plants will encroach on the walks as they develop 
A border of shrubbery or hardy perennials is most attractive, 
and may be allowed for, around two sides of the garden at 
least. ' 
Now that you have your plan carefully drawn to scale 
proceed to the carrying out of it. If it is possible, it would 
be best to have had the ground ploughed during the previous 
autumn. Failing this, after a top dressing of fertilizer a 
good spring ploughing will do, if it is followed by a thorough 
harrowing and crushing, pulverizing all lumps, and having 
the surface level and smooth, ready for laying out into beds! 
A mellow soil, that crumbles apart when worked in the fingers 
IS in the right condition to receive the seed; too wet or cloddy 
soil will soon dry out, and not nourish the plants. 
With a tape measure, heavy twine, several large stakes 
and a number of smaller ones, and a stout mallet, the teacher 
IS ready to give the first lesson in applied science and math- 
ematics. The older pupils would be the best to do this work 
the younger ones looking on. Use the large stakes for mark- 
ing promment corners, the smaller, for locating plots, etc.; 
drive them firmly m, and by means of the twine, lay out beds 
and walks according to your plan. After these have been out- 
lined, remove with shovels, about two inches of surface soil 
trom the walks, scattering it over the beds; then, with iron 
garden rakes, pulverize and work the beds evenly, disposing 
