24 
GARDENS AND THEIR MEANING 
and takes the risk of offering to his class the responsibility of 
sketching out beforehand, as well as actually handling, a year 
of gardening. These child types will vary according to natural 
tastes, temperament, and power of initiative. Not all young 
people, for example, will take hold of the gardening problem 
with anything like the same ability or enthusiasm. There will 
surely be a few who in their heart of hearts, though they may 
not seemingly hold back, are indifferent or actually bored. It 
is for a grown person to anticipate and deal with this attitude 
without any regrets or coaxings, A good way is to substitute 
without discussion some school work, of a more orthodox 
stamp, peculiarly suited to the needs of those who prefer 
reading or some similar task indoors. ETeedom to take gar- 
dening or to leave it will, more than anything else, sharply test 
the genuineness of the situation, and prove conclusively that 
the occupation of those out in the field is truly voluntary. As 
experience shows, it almost inevitably happens that these in- 
different ones will be drawn into the project by some real 
and happy interest which had to be awakened gradually. A 
large proportion of the class will probably, from the first mo- 
ment, justify the optimism of a teacher by having a more or 
less definite aim, together with no small amount of efficiency 
and poise. Conspicuous among such children will be those 
who in just the right kind of home life have been intrusted 
with important errands, and have looked after the comfort 
and safety of younger brothers and sisters. These young 
folks may not be the ones who never trip in behavior or in 
a spelling test, but they prove themselves, nevertheless, to be 
miles ahead of any such little prigs in the ability to deal with 
real issues. These children are quick to suggest courses of 
action and to foresee those disasters which are ever descend- 
ing out of a clear sky upon the inexperienced and improvident. 
They grasp with all speed the idea of adjusting themselves 
