Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1900-07-06
Garden Study in
the German Schools

C. b. Smith of the Office of Expert
ment Stations of the Department of
Agriculture, has prepared a pamphlet
on "a German Common School with
garden" He says:
Most of the common schools in the
smaller villages of Germany have at
tached to them a small garden. This
garden is intended primarily for the
use Of the teachers of the school. 1t
serves his table with fresh vegetables
and fruits in their season and thus in
directly adds a mite to his modest sal
airy. In most instances this garden Is
used solely as a source of income and
pleasure to the teacher. Occasionally,
however, some especially active and
wideawake teacher sees in the garden
means of instruction. Here plants can
be watched in their development from
seed to flower and fruitage; the curled
leaves on a choice plant may show
where an insect has made its home; a
heavily laden apple tree may suggest
the value OF pruning: a few pansies
or rosebud rightly placed may awak-
en- ideas of beauty.
"And so the garden becomes a field
| for observation. The teachers nature
study charts are supplemented with
real flowers and fruits grown in HIS
own garden and with insects. birds,
| bees and low forms of life that make
their homes in his own hedgerow or
feed upon his choicest plants. Pupils
working among these flowers, pruning
trees, or gathering berries from vines
planted and TILED by themselves, may
acquire an interest in nature and hus-
bandry which will remain with them
throughout their after life. Certainly
they will acquire practical knowledge
of the ways in which fruits, flowers and
garden vegetables are planted and car
ed for which will be of value to them
| in their future work as farmers or the
owners Of homes and gardens.
"A school Of this sort. located at ALI
ter, village Of some :. .-c inhabitants,
in the German Rhine province, between
Bonn and Cologne, was visited by the
author in 1899. The whole region lying
round about the village is intensively
farmed and forms practically one vast
garden. Vegetables alternate with or
chards with occasional strips OF grain
or forage plants. The school is what
is known as peoples school," This
is the common school Of Germany.
Only fundamental branches are taught
in these schools, and the whole course
is completed in eight years.
THE After common school contains
four hundred pupils and six teachers.
In this school, as in all others in this
province, two hours instructions week
ly in fruit culture. is given. This has
been compulsory by law since 1885,"
For each month in the year differ
ent botanical, horticultural or agricul-
tural study is provided. The work
practically requires three years for lite
completion. The plan is simply to be
suggestive, and the teacher finds the
method Of presenting the different sub
jects. Thus, around After nearly every
an experienced gardener. In the matter
owner or tenant Of piece OF ground is
Of fruit culture, the community is not
so far advanced. The whole work Of
spreading the soil, planting, seeding,
cultivating, pruning, and harvesting
the crop in the garden, is done entirely
by boys Of the sixth, seventh and
eighth grades, under the direction Of
the principal who works with them.
The same soil 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.