IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIM SCHOOL GARDENS IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIH 
Size and Form of Individual Plots 
The rectangular form of individual plots will be found to be the 
most satisfactory, and for convenience in working they should not exceed 
four or five feet in width, thus allowing all weeding and cultivation to 
be done from the walks without tramping on the beds. 
For the smaller children 4 by 6 or 4 by 8 ft. will be a convenient 
size, and if space will permit, the larger pupils should have plots 5 by 15 
or larger. 
1 he beds should be laid out with the length running east and west, 
and the rows planted across the beds, (usually a foot apart for most 
varieties,) thereby allowing the sun to shine freely between the rows. 
Y\ hen the individual plots can be made larger, they may be made 
square, with rows running north and south, a foot apart, when they may 
be cultivated with a hand cultivator. 
Laying Out the Beds and Walks 
When you have decided on the plans, number of individual plots 
etc., proceed to lay out the beds and walks. This will be a very instruc¬ 
tive and interesting part of the work, in which the children will take 
great delight. It will, however, be best if only a few of the older pupils 
have this part of the work to do, the teachers applying the mathematical 
lessons to the smaller pupils as the work proceeds. 
A tape measure, strong garden line, or heavy twine, several large 
stakes 15 to 18 inches long for locating the corners and other prominent 
points, and smaller stakes 6 or 8 inches long for the corners of each bed 
or plot, also mallet or heavy hammer for driving stakes will be required. 
Now proceed to lay out the beds and walks according to the plans 
which have been previously drawn on paper. All main walks should be 
3 to 4 feet in width,-and the smaller walks dividing the beds should not 
be less than two feet wide, as many varieties of plants will encroach on 
the walks as they develop. 
When all beds and walks have been outlined, remove with shovels 
about two inches of the surface soil from the walks, scattering it evenly 
over the beds. Then with iron garden rakes carefully pulverize and rake 
the beds, pulling all clods back into the walks. 
It is not desirable to make deep walks, unless the land is low and wet. 
as the deep walks tend to carry the water off during rains, which should 
be allowed to soak into the soil; all that is necessary is just sufficient depth 
to outline the beds. 
The general appearance of the garden will be much improved if a 
large central community bed is arranged in the center, where an orna¬ 
mental floral design bed can be worked out, having a Castor JBean or other 
large central piece, grading down to the low growing border plants near 
the walks. The importance of a central bed of this kind is to teach 
proper arranging of the various kinds for pleasing effect. 
Do not permit the pupils to plant hardy perennials in the individual 
plots, unless it is intended to remove them to the border in autumn 
before the garden is plowed. 
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