Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-18

visited by the teacher Of botany who was
directly in charge of the work. Seventy-five
per cent Of them were reported success
full: thetones that were not suffered from
the family cats. neighbOrfng chickens and
small boys. but in every case an honest en-
deavor had been made The best vegetable
garden was half Of yard that. until this
year, had been turned over to chickens.
Beans. cucumbers. corn. tomatoes. radshes
lettuce made a fiourish.ng kitchen garden.
and have saved many trips to the market
this summer. Plans are being made to use
the entire yard next year.
One student exercised her ingenuity dec
Grating the woodshed by mailing a box to
the middle portion from which vines were
coaxed to run both upward and downward.
A narrow strip between the fence and the
brick walk furnished celery and parsley for
seasoning all summer
Some added ferns to their gardens tina .
had been gotten in the woods on botanical
excursions. These wild touches have been
a successful addition
Pleasure Derived From First Attempts
When school opened in September these
students were sent into the practice schools
attached to the Normal School to teach
Immediately one result Of the gardening
was noted. Bright punches of margolds
and nasturtium greeted the little ones every
morning. The girls experienced so much
pleasure from their first attempts that they
were anxious for others to share their pleas
ure.
The outlook for a flower show seemed
hopeful. 80 1t was decided to call for a
gathering In OF the products on October l.
This exhibition only showed a small por-
ton of the results, for most Of the vege-
tables were early ones. and among flowers
sweet peas. balsam and poppies had passed.
But the marigolds, asters and nasturtium
were very creditabe. The scarlet sage from
the cuttings made in the spring were par
ucularly fine One exhibit of interest was
jar OF pickles. the product Of one cucum-
Der vine. Several corn stalks and a bunch
of oats were shown. the girls having planted
these to study the Towering Of the grains.
An exhibit of plants suitable for the very
unfaYorable conditions found in a school
room was suggestive. These were prepared
under the direction Of the botanical depart
ment from cuttings.
Promising Outlook.
1.-The outlook for this year is very encour-
aging. The interest In the work is thor
oughly aroused and in almost every instance
the girls have better plans for next year
The parents are giving the heartiest CO.
operation and have expressed themselves
as very much favoring the work The
greatest encouragement comes from Dr.
Galloway, who places at the disposal of
the school a section Of land twenty-five feet
by sixty feet in the grounds of the Depart
ment of Agriculture, together with a
be raised for school rooms and where tie
students are thrown in contact with the
best methods Of gardening.
Perhaps the thought passes through
ones mind that we desire to make garden
ers farmers of our children. In this
connection Mr.. Crosby Of the Department
of Agriculture says: L would emphasize
the fact that school gardens are not intend
ed to create gardeners or farmers, but to
afford the growing boy and girl an oppor-
stunity for many-sided development. AS
the French miniStery of education puts it,
THE object Of the course is not to teach
the business of farming. but to study the
phenomena of life and the conditions of it's
development, to inspire love of the coun-
try and to develop the natural tendencies
of children to become interested in flowers
birds. etc "
There Is much opportunity for real ma
ture study in a city garden. Reports come
of humming birds, bees, wasps. unusual
spiders and moths having been seen. We
are having nature study right at home"