34 
GARDENS AND THEIR MEANING 
quality of the radishes at breakfast, and of the cabbage and 
onions at dinner, is graciously associated with a teacher’s per- 
sonality ; and an introduction to the home circle as " Sammy’s 
garden teacher,” accompanied invariably with a flourish, 
guarantees a warm welcome. 
Association with the daily food leads to other confidences 
and intimacies, nobody can exactly explain how. Such par- 
ticipation in the family life of the neighborhood becomes a 
source of deepest satisfaction to a teacher ; and these friend- 
ships are real because they are mutual. Best of all, the com- 
munity comes into its own by cooperating with the schools 
through a movement whose purposes it comprehends, and 
to the prosperity of which it can substantially contribute. 
A vegetable and flower show displaying the produce of a 
season, attractively set out for the inspection of the neighbor- 
hood, may easily become the event of the school year. Many 
a plain citizen, who has long hardened his heart against other 
pleadings, will be enticed to such a festival. Such a person 
may turn out to be the first to appreciate ” education by 
actualities,” to promote among the young folks gardening as 
an occupation. There is certainly foundation for believing 
that school and home gardening is opening up to young 
people, especially to girls, an excellent means of livelihood. 
Women specialists in gardening assure us that although it 
demands hard work and business methods, it is attractive, 
it is health-giving, and it pays. What a school garden does 
toward such an end is to enlarge the arch of experience 
through which one’s life work may be seen. 
Whether the value of a school garden is viewed from the 
angle of useful knowledge, or from the angle of the scientific 
spirit, or from the still wider viewpoint of practice in the art of 
living, it is warranted to be worth while. But its greatest les- 
sons, after all, we believe, will be lessons in the art of living. 
