The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1912-06-20
CHILDREN'SHOME GARDENS
BY George Severance, superintendent
Western Washington Experiment
Station. Puyallup, Washington.

To graduate from the eighth grade
in the public schools of King County
| this year a boy or girl was Obliged tt
grow a small garden, doing all the
work of caring for the garden. Tc
| nelp along this good work the mayor
of Kirkland gave So to be distributed
in prizes for the best garden grown by
candidates for graduation from fae
eighth grade in the kirkland schools
| The superintendent of the experiment
| station was asked to inspect the twenty
one childrens gardens grown in con-
| lest at Kirkland and the interest and
condition of the gardens was SO muci
| beyond expectations that a few notes
Of encouragement for this work seem
justified. We believe that it is one
of the best lipes of work that has been
introduced into the schools or that is
| likely to be introduced so far as its
influence in promoting the welfare oi
| the child or advancing the cause OF
agriculture is concerned
The gardens We're hard to compare ac-
| ourately because several were grown on
perfectly raw land where nothing was
available. while others were grown on
older and better soil, but several OF
them were in such uniformly excellent
condition that it was finally decided
to award $500 each for the five best
gardens without attempting to place
them in order of merit.
The following points of interest were
observed in looking over these gar
dens:
|. Eleven of the twenty-one gardens
were grown by girls.
q Three of the five prizes were award
ed to girls.
3. Nineteen of the twenty-one gardens
showed constant interest on the
part of the pupils. Two appeared to
be cleaned up for the occasion.
l. The majority showed "a better
grasp of the principles underlying good
soil tillage than most of our farmers
possess. Nearly all showed that the
work was directed by their best
thought.
5. Some had later crops seeded or
set out amongst the early stuff to pro-
vide close succession of crops, show
ing intelligent recognition of an i'm
portant principle in intensive farming
OF high priced land.
6. The best garden was grown by a
DROWN laCtu, lltditlH, ioouSt iesAC 6h
and was surrounded By one of the
dirtiest garden and yards found OH
the tour of inspection The majority
showed better conditions than the gar
dens of the parents, thus serving as
good object lessons.
T. Several of the girls showed an In
terest in flowers, disposition that
needs more encouragement inc most
homes.
We believe this work has the follow
ing important uses as a feature OF an
educational work:
l. To arouse a keen interest in farm
life and farm work, serving to tighten
drudgery.
. To cultivate a taste for and habit
of study into agricultural problems at
what is looked upon usually only as
an age when the child's tastes and
habits are being formed.
3. To develop initiative and an ability
&c assume responsibility, which is need
ed much worse in many OF our young
people than an accumulation OF facts.
T. To awaken parents to greater III
terest in better agriculture and In our
schools. This effect is very evident
at Kirkland,
We believe that every effort should
be made to help along this class of ed
ucational work by ali who are in position
to lend an influence in any way.