Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-09-22
FARM AND GARDEN.
MATTERS OF INTEREST TO
AoRICULTURISTS.
Some Up.to-DAto HIntS About Cal
tiVRtion OF tho Soil and Yields
Observation-Disclosures. vItIOulturo and
Horticulture.
horticulture In Our Public Schools.

Horticulture In Our Public Schools.
Why and how should horticulture
DO taught In our rural schools?
As experience 10 the best teacher in
almost every science, why should II not
be considered the best In the science
OF horticultural There are 30 many
things that cannot be learned except
by the experience gained by doing the
work. think In all rural schools tho
cultivation Of q garden Is not only
possible, but practicable. They all
have their plot Of ground surround
Ing the school house amply sufficient
for q playground and small garden,
too There are very few children In
deed who do not love flowers, and II
they had garden that they could con-
slider their own, how much more they
would love them. Let them have
three or four small beds of flowers OF
tho kinds that are easily cultivated,
some animals and some perennials. Do
not plant all Of the ANNALS In the beds
where you intend to have them, but
plant some in boxes. Teach them
about the kind of soil necessary to DO
used, and about the drainage, and al
so about the depth to cover the seeds.
Then water the boxes and place some
glass over them and tell them why
you do this. After awhile when the
plants come up II will be necessary to
transplant them to the beds. Call their
attention to the different kinds OF
roots that plants have, and tell them
that plants with long tap roots are
more difficult to transplant and require
the greatest care in transplanting
Show the children how to make the
holes In the bed large enough to allow
the roots to spread out, and not be
cramped then after putting the plant
in, pour little water around the root
that will cause the rootlets to spread
on: In natural position, and the
moisture will be retained longer just
where 1t is needed than 1t would be II
the water we're poured on top around
the plant after the work was done
Then press the earth gently but firmly
around 1t to exclude the air from the
roots, and do not forget to water 1t
and shield 1t from the direct rays OF
the sun for awhile. For plants with
long tap roots, take round stick like
lead pencil to make the holes In tho
ground with, then pour water in the
hole and proceed in the same way as
for the other plants. SO many make a
failure Of transplantlng.
BE sure to have some vines, those
that grow up and those that grow
down, to teach them to love grace as
well as beauty. Show them that some
vines wind from left to right and 9th
ers from right to left and teach them
the lessons connected with 1t. Be-
sides, calling attention to all these lit
tie things qulckens the child's power OF
observation. Then there are so many
beautiful legends connected with the
flowers, the legend of the lily and the
rose, the story of the pansy, the violet,
and so forth, which all appeal to the
moral nature Of the child, would be so
much more interesting to children IL
they raised the flowers themselves, for
so many children in the country do
not have flowers at home,
What moro impressive way could be
found to teach the lesson Of the resur-
rection than to plant the seed in the
cold, damp ground, and after time
to see 1t spring up into thing Of life
and beauty? Then the window gar
den, too would be a source Of pleas
ure. OF course very few country
schools are warm enough to keep
plants in the winter, but they could be
kept as long as possible. Horticulture
includes the cultivation OF vegetables
as well as flowers, but with the limit
ed space in tie school yard, the Guilt
walton of vegetables would be almost
impracticable, but II such thing were
possible the vegetables might be sold
and the proceeds used for something
for the school, thereby teaching them
thrift and economy, for 1t would take
an accumulation of several seasons to
amount to much. Fifteen or twenty
minutes each day devoted to hortlcul-
ture would accomplish great deal. 1t
would not be necessary for the entire
school to take part at once, unless the
school was q small one, only part at q
time, but have each one take part at It
some time. Then would suggest that
the school subscribe for some good
magazine on horticulture and read 1t,
and not only read 1t, but practice the
good hints contained In 1t.
Why teach horticulture in the rural
school? Because 1t is source of
pleasure, because 1t qulckens the per-
ceptlve powers Of the child, and Gre
ates the power Of observation, and be-
cause It inculcates good morals. How?
Teach 1t by experience and reading.
MRS. MARY VINCENT.
10 Davless Co., Ill.
VIVA