Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1898-10-22
FARM AND GARDEN.
MATTERS OF INTEREST TO
ACPICULTURiSTS
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sfvanoa 81 the sell and fieads
Observation-Disclosures SitieUlxurs and
GloEte sIsarA


HortieuIssre In Our PubIic Schools
Why and how should horticulture
be taught in our rural sehoolss
As experience is the best teacher In
almost every science. why should II not
be considered the best in the science
Of horticulture, There are SO many
things that cannot be learned except
by the experience gained by doing the
work / think in all rural schools the
cultivation of a garden is not only
possible. but practicable They an
have their plot of ground surrouho-
ing the school house amply <umcleni
for playground and small garden
too. There are very few children in
deed who DO not love flowers. and II
they had garden thai they could con
slider their own. hos much more they
would love them Let them have
three or four small beds OF 1oEsrs OF
the kinds that are easily cultivated,
some animals and some persnnials- DO
not plant all of the ANIMALS in the beds
plant some in boxes Teach them
about the kind OF soil necessary 10 oe
used. and about the drainage, and al
80 about the depth TO cover the seeds
Thea water the boxes and place soIs
Sass over them and tell them Why
yoa DO this After awhile xhen the
plants come up il xiii be necessary 10
transplant them 10 the beds Call Inelr
&treation to the different kinds OF
roots that plants have. and tell them
that plants with long tap roots are
more difficult 10 transplant and require
1he greatest care il traEsplan1ing-
Show the children how 10 make the
boxes in the bed large enough 10 allow
the roots 10 spread out, and not be
raHped: then after p2tring the plant
ia pour little water around the root.
thzr VIII ezase the rootls-s TO spread
Gu In . natural position. and the
moisture vii De retained longer just
where il Is needed than il would be i.
TIE water were poured On top around
the plant after the work was done
Then press the earth gently but firmly
around il 70 exclude the air from the
roots, and do not forget 10 water il
and shield IL 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 the
ground with. then pour water in the
hole and proceed in the same way as
for the other plants So many make q
failure Of transplznting.
Be sure to have some vines, those
that grow up and those that grow
down, to teach them TO love grace a
we'll as beauty. Show them that sons
vines wind from left to right and 9th
ers from right TO left. and teach then
the lessons connected with il. Be
sides, calling attention to all these lit
tie things quiekens the ehild's power D
observation. Then there are so man!
beautiful legends connected with tn
flowers. the legend Of the lily and tn
rose, the story of the pansy. the violet
and SO forth, which all appeal TO tn
moral nature of the child, would be 5
much more interesting to children
they raised the flowers themselves, TO
SO many children in the country d
At& A1sE AO ca dt
What more impressive way could b
found to teach the lesson of the resur
rection than TO plant the seed in tn
cold. damp ground, and after a tim
to see it spring up into thing of lif
and beauty? Then the window gar
den, too, would be a source OF pleas
ure. OF course very few countr
schools are warm enough to kee
plants in the winter, but they could b
kept as long as possible. Hortfcultur
includes the cultivation of vegetable
as we'll as flowers, but with the limit
ed space in the school yard, the cult
walton of vegetables would be alrno:
impracticable. but if such thing WEI
possible the vegetables might be sol
and the proceeds used for somethin
for the school, thereby teaching thel
thrift and economy. for it would tai
an accumulation of several seasons |
amount to much. Fifteen or twent
minutes each day devoted to horticu
ture would accomplish a great deal.
would not be necessary for the entil
school to take part at once, unless Il
school was small one, only part at
time. but have each one take part at
some time. Then | would suggest thi
the school subscribe for some goe
magazine on horticulture and read
and not only read it, but practice Il
good hints contained in it.
Why teach horticulture In the rur
school? Because it is source
pleasure, because it quickens the pc
ceptiye powers of the child, and or
ates the power of observation, and b
cause it inculeates good morals. How
Teach it by experience and reading.
MRS. MARY VINCENT.
10 DaYiess Co., Ill.
LnOse Smut of Wheat