Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-14

once a week.
1t is surprising how little knowledge the
average city child has of seed planting
Usually, too, he does not follow accurately
the instructions given him in the first plant
ing lesson, for he does not seem to realize
that where the seeds fall there will they
grow. 1t is only necessary, however, for
the first row of radisheS to appear above
ground and to teach him this lesson. Every
boys row is the subject of much criticism,
favorable or adverse, from his neightbor
The planting is always done by garden line,
for there is much training to the oldest of
us in following a straight line. The boy
who has not kept strictly to the line finds
himself so busy making excuses that the
next planting is most carefully DONE A
seed is gentle teacher of accuracy.
Cultivation Is the secret of success. Fol-
lowing the advice of a well-known Cornell
professor the watering pot is discarded and
the rake used in its place. Besides a rake
each boy is provided with a Dutch or scuffie
hoe. With these tools the gardens are so
well cultivated that last season from May
until October no water was put upon them
The boys by simple experiments are taught
the value of conserving water by frequent
cultivation.
This work continues throughout the sum-
mer. Its popularity is shown by a 90 per
cent attendance during July and by the
fact that the boys worked five mornings of
their Easter vacation. The results sat
isfactory financially. sixteenth of an
acre was cultivated last year by fourteen
boys Current market prices were set upon
the products as gathered, At the end of
the season the strip had produced $50 worth
of vegetables.
i
The practical results are satisfactory, but
the educational side of the work appeals
to those in charge more strongly. A large
amount of general information is obtained
easily by contact with the plants grown
that could be obtained by no other means
Accuracy is developed well atten-
ton to the business in hand; industrious
habits are formed; a practical means is
provided for the application of the arith-
metc given in the schools and in many
cases the work has been carried into the
homes, thus giving a visible result of the
Influence of the school work on the home.
Perhaps the garden as it is being de-
veloped this year could not be worked out
at all school buildings. 1t is, however,
suggestive. Specially so is the portion al
lied to the geography. Life should be the
keynote of teaching in geography as well
as botany and zoology The whole ex-
pertinent is well worth careful attention
from the school authorities and from others
interested in the development of outdoor
activities for children. A noted educator
has said that school without a garden is
like a stag without water. The bureau of
education closed a report on the subject
published in 1S9- by saying that the idea
is so simple and so natural that the COM
ing century will wonder how educational
institutions could have existed without
them and been true to their purpose. This
is prophecy that is being rapidly fulfilled
Throughout the country the movement is
widespread this season. 1t has passed the
experimental stage, and has now reached
the place where courses of study are being
adjusted that other studies which have
been theoretical may now have practical
correlation with the garden