The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1911-08-04
HOMETOWN
NE;gMl'I,l;;;;:;S|EE
SCHOOL GARDENS OF LONDON
Attempts to Grow Plants In sIums Of
Metropolis Elicit Praise Of
American Expert.

A very interesting report On Eng.
hsh school gardens has recently been
issued by the United States depart
ment Of agricultural IS bulletin 204.
II was written by Miss Susan B. Sipe,
a collaboration of the bureau Of plant
industry and teacher of botany and
nature study in one of the normal
schools In the city of Washington.
This report is based upon investiga-
tions made by the author during Eu.
ropean trip. The local reader cannot
but wish that some Of the unfortunate
children mentioned could be brought
to California, where there is at last
a small plat Of earth for every child
In the state. 1t is stated regarding
school in Whitechapel Uondon)
where no unoccupied ground sur
rounds: Each pupil has a small
space assigned to her in the roof gar
den, boxes, scarcely more than foot
square, but even so, more than she has
at home"
The writer regrets that lack Of
space forbids the reproduction OF
much of value and interest to be found
in this report, but advises every one
entrusted with the teaching Of nature
study or school gardening to get this
most valuable bulletin. When we read
of the futile attempts to grow plants
in the London slums one marYels That
our own school gardens. where man
and nature have both conspired to rem
der conditions unusually favorable.
are not overrun with a riotous pro-
fusion of leaf and blossom. On the
window stills in the hall were some in
teresting though pathetic attempts OF
the East Side children to grow plants
at home. The children were asked to
bring pots and soil from home in which
to plant seeds and bulbs. The re-
Spouse proved the scarcity of such
things in their homes. The teachers
then procured the material. Seeds
were given them and when vacation
came the plants were taken home to
be cared for. In one pot were half
| dozen varieties of weeds, the original
plant having been choked out of exis'
tence, but the child-owner of the pot
though them so beautiful Stunted
and sickly merigolds and nasturtiuma
gave ample proof of the blighting eff
| feet of London smoke"
Notwithstanding the hard conditions
under which they labor this school
| gardening is on a much broader
grander and more comprehensive
scale than anything we attempt. Ma
doubt there is far greater need OF it
An exhibition was held in July in one
Of the Whitechapel districts and there
were collections of wild flowers from
| two country schools; paintings of wild
| flowers and nature studies by many
Of the schools in London; collections
of flowers and shrubs suitable fol
! growing in London parks and gar
| dens; a model back yard and garden
on a reduced scale, showing what
might be done in an ordinary Londor
back yard at little expense; a mode
recreation ground "a feet square, con
5tructed to illustrate the many health
giving opportunities which might bt
introduced into public playground:
under good management and good
planning, and many other valuable
features. II is said the exhibit wa!
visited by 10000 people, Is schools
sent in exhibitions, and altogether i
was a great AFFAIR.