The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1898-12-08
FARM AND GARDEN.
MATTERS OF INTEREST TO
AORICULTURISTS.
Some Up-to-Date Hints About Cu1-
tivation of the Soil and Yields
Observation-Disclosures, %viticulture and
Horticulture.
HortIculture in Our Pubuc schoo1s.

Horticulture In Our Public schools.
Why and how should horticulture
be taught in our rural schools?
AS experience is the best teacher in
almost every science, why should it 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. l think in all rural schools the
cultivation Of a garden Is not only
possible, but practicable. They all
have their plot of ground surround
Ing the school house amply sufficient
for a playground and a small garden,
toe. There are very few children in
deed who do not love flowers, and II
they had a garden that they could con-
slider their own, how much more h
would love them. Let them have
three or four small beds Of flowers OF
the 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, bu
plant some in boxes. Teach them
about the kind of soil necessary to be
used, and about the drainage, and al
so about the depth to cover the seeds.
hen water the boxes and place some
glass over them and tell them why
you do this. After awhile when the
plants come UP it 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 tr~ansplantlng.
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 a little water around the root,
that will cause the rootlets to spread
on: in a natural position, and the
moisture will be retained longer just
where it is needed than it would be II
the water were poured on top around
the plant after the work was done.
Then press the earth gently but firmly
around it to exclude air from the
roots. and do not forget to water 1t
and shield it from the direct rays OF
TIC Suu lOI awhile. rOl ploh'S viii
long tap roots, take a round stick like
a 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 a
failure of transplanting.
Be sure to have some vines, those
that grow up and those that grow
| 1ou,r 10 %oanh %hapN - 1~,,N rpa M nc
we'll 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 quickens 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 Sc
much more interesting to children il
they raised the flowers themselves, fol
so many children in the country dc
not have flowers at home.
What more impressive way could bt
found to teach the lesson of the resur'
rection than to plant the seed in thu
cold, damp ground, and after a tim'
to see it spring up into a thing of lft
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 keel
plants in the winter, but they could b
kept as long as possible. Horticultur
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 almos
impracticable, but if such a thing wer
possible the vegetables might be sol
and the proceeds used for somethin
for the school, thereby teaching thel
thrift and economy, for it would TAX
an accumulation of several seasons t
amount to much. Fifteen or invent
minutes each day devoted to horticul
ture would accomplish a great deal.
would not be necessary for the entir
:, school to take part at once, unless tn
!. school was a small one, only part at
:. time, but have each one take part at
. some time. Then l would suggest ths
!, the school subscribe for some goo
= magazine on horticulture and read i
' and not only read it, but practice th
good hints contained in it.
. Why teach horticulture in the ruri
: school? Because 1t is a source
i pleasure, because it quickens the pc,
. ceptive. powers Of the child, and CIR
l ates the power of observation, and b,
cause it inculcates good morals. How
3 Teach it by experience and reading.
:, MRS. MARY VINCENT.
e 10 Daviess Co., Ill.