The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1899-02-11
FARM Al AND GARDEN;
MATTERS OF INTEREST TO
@s&>5:s. AGRlCULTURlSTS :,
Some Up-to-Dafe Hints About Cul-
tivation OF the Soil and Yields
Thereof viticulturs and
Horticulture In Our Public Schools.


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. think in all rural schools the
cultivation of a garden is net only
possible, but practicable. They all
nave their plot of ground surround
ing the school house amply sufficient
for playground and a small garden,
TOO. There are very few children in
deed who do not love flowers, and if
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
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, but
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.
Ihen 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 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
ID, pour little water around the root,
that will cause the rootlets to spread
OF. in natural position, and the
moisture will be retained longer just
where it is needed than it would be il
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 the air from the
roots, and do not forget to water it
and shield it from the direct rays Of
the sun for awhile. For plants with
long tap roots, take a round stick like
a lead pencil to make tie holes in the
ground with. then pour water in the
hole and proceed in the same way as
Tor the other plants. So many make a
failure of transplanting.
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 it. 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 so
much more interesting to children if
they raised the flowers themselves, for
SO many children in the country do
not have flowers at home
What more 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 a time
to see it spring up into thing Of life
and beauty? Then the window gar
den, too, would be 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 the school yard, the culti-
walton of vegetables would be almost
imprscticable, but if 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 it would take
an accumulation of several seasons to
to much. Fifteen or twenty
each day devoted to horticul-
ture would accomplish a great deal. 1t
would not be necessary for the entire
school to take part at once, unless the
school was small one. only part at a
time, but have each one take part at it
some time. Then would suggest that
the school subscribe for some good
On horticulture and read if.
and not only read it. but practice tho
good hints contained in it.
Why teach horticulture in the rural
school? Because it is a Source of
pleasure, because it quickens the per-
ceptive powers of the child, and Gre
ates the power of observation, and be-
cause it inculcates good morals. How?
Teach it by experience and reading.
MRS. MARY VINCENT.
Jo Dayiess Co., III. ,~.j
Loose Smut of Wheat.