INTRODUCTION 
XV 
gardens, and in systematically planting 
the seed, gives the child the practical 
mathematics which he so much needs. 
Much language work can be given in 
connection with it ; in fact, it can be 
correlated with nearly all the other 
branches, as it furnishes material for 
writing, painting, drawing and geography. 
Even business can be taught, as is done 
at the school gardens at the State Normal 
School at Hyannis, Mass., where the 
products of the gardens are sold, the 
money is taken to the bank and deposited, 
and the children learn the method of 
depositing money and drawing checks. 
The systematic care of tools and the 
systematic order of doing things, and the 
habits of close observation and of reporting 
observations, acquired by the child, will 
form a trait which will be invaluable to 
him throughout life. Where gardens have 
been conducted for several years, long 
enough to make practical tests, it is 
found that the boys having the garden 
work are thirty per cent, more rapid in 
