364 Garden Work 
work in the garden is done at various times and in various ways than on 
the actual work itself. 
In the third year the work in the garden should be easily and skilfully 
performed by the pupils, who will understand tolerably well why they do 
each operation as the time and seasons come round. They will also 
observe with greater accuracy the results of the various methods adopted 
in the cultivation of these plants, and should be able to give a fair explana- 
tion of why a particular crop is doing well — the soil and season having been 
suitable for it, and it being free from the attack of insects or from disease; 
or to give an explanation for a particular crop not doing well — the seed may 
not have looked very good; the seed time not have been suitable, either 
too cold and wet, or too hot and dry; or the soil and season may not have 
been suitable for it; or it may have been attacked by insects or by disease, 
and so on. They should also be taught more fully how soils are formed, 
and their composition with regard to plant foods, &c., how manures are 
converted into plant foods in the soil, the composition of manures, and 
their relative values. Artificial or chemical manures may be used, their 
properties explained, and their action carefully watched, 
Seeds may be studied more fully; testing for germinating power may 
be done; the causes for failures sought for, &c. The plant should be 
thoroughly studied as it grows in the garden. The uses of the various 
parts should be carefully noted, such as the root to hold the plant in the 
soil, and the root hairs at the apex of the rootlets to collect the food 
materials from the soil, &c. ; the stem to bear the branches, which in turn 
bear the leaves. The structure of root and stem may be studied in wet 
and unsuitable weather for work in the garden, the various parts detected 
and explained by the aid of the microscope. Leaves, their function and 
structure, how they breathe (respiration), how they give off the superfluous 
water (transpiration), and how they take in part of the food of plants from 
the atmosphere (carbon dioxide), and manufacture it into the substances 
for use in building up the various parts of the plants (assimilation) should 
also be taken. 
The flowers, their parts, and the functions of each part — the calyx for 
protection; the corolla for attraction, to attract insects to pollinate the 
stigma; the androecium or stamens; and the gynaeceum or pistil, for re- 
production, to produce seed — is another subject. 
The fruit, the parts of the fruit, and their uses; the seed, the parts 
of the seed, and their function — (1) the testa or skin, for protection; (2) 
the cotyledons or seed leaves, and the albumen to store and supply food for 
