Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-30

continuation of the series of reports
from the principals of school build
ings on the garden work conducted
- by the pupils of the schools. begun
In last Sundays issue, The Star to-
day prints another installment of these
interesting statements, showing the expert
ences of the various schools in this respect.
During the past week nothing has been
done In these gardens. owing to the inter
Vention of the Easter holidays but from
all indications the resumption of studies
during the coming week will be marked by
vigorous prosecution of the work. A spirit
of rivalry between several of the schools
has developed to the end of inspiring the
pupils to unusual efforts. Parents are TAX
ing deep interest in the work The
weather conditions this spring have favored
the production of excellent results and it
is believed by the school authorities that
the progress achieved this year will suffice
to put the school garden enterprise upon a
solid basis from which it grow rapidly
in the seasons to come
one of the greatest obstacles to success in
this line has been the interference with
the work by unidentified vandals, who have
in some cases ruthlessly destroyed the
growths and trampled upon the beds SO
carefully made and tended by the little
agriculturists. AT the Seaton School on
been encountered, the result of the lack of
a retaining wall at the end of the garden
lot The teachers realized that unless such
a wall was secured the work at that school
would come to naught. So last autumn
each child In the school was instructed to
write as a class exercise a letter to DR..
Richard Kingsman, chairman of the com
mfttee on public buildings and repairs of
the board of education, asking that this
work be ordered. Examples of these COM
positions were of course submitted to Dr.
kingSman and the work was ordered. but
IL has been delayed.
AS an Indication, not alone of the excel
lence of English composition OF which the
public school pupils capable, but an
evidence of the enthusiasm of the young
gardeners. the following letter. chosen from
this number makes interesting exhibit
in the school garden" series:
MY dear DR.. Kingsman:
May l tell you tale of woe about the
efforts of the Seaton pupils at gardening?
Previous 20 the spring of 1902 the play
ground OF our school was an unlovely waste
of gravel and clay. We wished to beautify
it and relieve its barrenness by a flower
garden. We selected a sunny strip along
the back feIfce for our first attempt. AS
we We're furnished with no tools went
to work with the motley assortment
brought from the pupils homes But where
there's a will. there's a wayne possessed
the Will, and the way was forthcoming
We met with many obstacles in the shape
of clay banks and bOulders. but We dill
gently dug them out and removed in all
about three cart loads of rubbish. We had
before Us a ditch. and the problem of fill
ing it with fertile soil. We saved the Dis
trict the expense OF cartiug away many
bags Of sweepinSs from II street. We
filled our ditch with mixture of clay.
sweepings and manure The school
thorities kindly allowed US load of ma
nure. which was all the aid received from
them. Miss Sipe gave US valuable assist
ance and encouragement She helped us to
procure from the Agricultural Department
slips permanent bushes and seeds for
flowers We planted eight bushes. includ-
ing lilacs syringas and weigelias. ali of
which doomed. much TO our Srathcation-
Among our flowers were marigolds coleus,
nasturtiums and caunas. We realized that