The times., 1899-12-06

C. B. Smith. Of the Office Of Experiment
Stations of the Department Of Agriculture,
has prepared a pamphlet on "A German
Common School with a garden. He says:
Most Of the common schools in the
smaller villages OF Germany have attached
to them a smaH garden. This garden Is
intended primarily for the use Of the teach
er Of the school. 1t serves his table with
a few fresh vegetables and fruits in their
season and thus indirectly adds a mite 10
his modest salary. In most instances jhfs
garden is used solely as a source of income
and pleaure to the teacher. Occasionally,
however. some especially active and wide
awake teacher sees in the garden a means
Of instruction. Here plants can be watched
in their development from seed 10 flower
and fruitage; the curIed leaves on a choice
plant may show where an insect has made
It's home; a heavily-ladeu apple tree may
suggest the value OF pruning a few pan
sizes OF rosebud rightly placed may aWak-
en- ideas OF beauty.
and so the garden becomes field for
observation. The teachers Rature-sJudy
charts are supplemented with real flowers
and fruits grown in his own garden and
with insects, birds, bees, and low forms %
life that make their homes in his own
hedgerOw or feed upon his choicest plants.
Pupils working among these flowers, pruH-
ing trees, or gathering berries from vines
planted and titled by themselves. may ac-
quire an interest in nature and hUsbandry
which will remain with them throughout
their after life. Certainly they will acquire
q practical knowledge Of the ways in which
fruits, flowers, and garden vegetables are
4 4 d "a arHN 90 al.
10 them In their future work as farmers
or the owners Of homes and gardens.
"a school of this sort, located 40 Altt5r.
a village of some 2.0G0 inhabitants, ia the
German Rhine province. between Bonn and
Cologne was visited by the author
in 1899 The whole region Ivius
round about the village is iutensively
farmed and forms practically one vast
garden. Vegetables alternate with orchards
with occasional strips of grain or forage
plants The school is what is known as
peoples school" This is the common
school Cf Germany. Only fundamental
branches are taught in these schools, aad
the whole course Is completed ia eight
years.
The After common school contains
four hundred pupils and six teachers II
this school. as in all Others in this prov
ince two hours Instructions weekly in
fruit culture, gardening, and general farm
ing during the last two years OF the
course, is given. This has been CJmpul-
sorry by law since 1875.
For each month in the year a different
botanical, horticultural or agricultural
study is provided. The work practically
requires three years for its completion. The
plan is simply 10 be suggestive, and the
teacher finds the method of presenting the
different subjects. Thus, around Alter
nearly every owner or tenant Of q piece
OF ground is an experienced gardener In
the matter of fruit culture. the community
is not so far advanced. the whole work
Of spreading the soil planting. seeding.
cuItivatiug. pruning and harvesting the
crop in the garden. IS done entirely By
bows OF the siyth. seventh. and eighth
grades, under the direction OF the Trinci-
pal. who works with them.
The same soil is utilized for two or
three crops during the growing season, and
the produce is sold. Specimens OF insects.
etc. found, are taken TO the school room
for object lessons.