CHAPTER XXVI 
SUGGESTIONS ON LABORATORY WORK 
702. Importance. — A course in vegetable gardening 
cannot be fully satisfactory without suitable laboratory 
work accompanying the lectures or recitations. Labora- 
tory work is essential for three reasons: (1) It is the 
most effective means of teaching; (2) it creates enthusi- 
asm ; (3) it inspires confidence. When the laboratory 
work is properly managed the student not only learns 
methods, but he grasps principles and soon possesses a 
much clearer knowledge of the subject than is possible 
without such exercises. 
703. Methods. — Laboratory work in vegetable garden- 
ing may be classified as follows: (1) Special exercises in 
seed testing, sowing, transplanting, spraying, construct- 
ing hotbeds and cold frames, preparing vegetables for 
market, etc. (See 706.) (2) Work for which the student 
is held daily responsible. A course in vegetable garden- 
ing should be conducted the second half of the college 
year, since it will then be possible for the student to 
acquire experience in the starting of early plants and in 
the making of a home or a commercial vegetable garden. 
This idea should be carried out whenever facilities will 
permit. At the beginning of the course each student 
should be informed as to the dimensions of the plat which 
he will be expected to plant and cultivate. Give him to 
understand that it is his problem ; that he is expected to 
plan his work and then work his plan. A map showing 
the arrangement of the planting should be submitted by 
the student and approved by the instructor. It is neces- 
sary, of course, that the student be provided with seeds, 
plants, transplanting tools and other equipment, but he 
