Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-03-30
PLANS FOR SCHOOL GARDENS
Methods of Utilizing Small
Spaces for Individual Plots.
kccner Interest shown in IndiyiJua,
Thnn in Common school Garden
Rndishcs. Lettuce. Beans, Bcets
and Tomatoes Raised,

Specialists in the United States depart-
ment of agriculture have planned two
specimen Individual gardens five by lG IL
feet for use in schools one of these is
for vege ables alone and the other for
both vegetables and flowers The average
pupil, IT has been found. shows a much
keener interest in a garden of his own
than in one owned in common by all the
school. Individual gardens stimulate
pride in ownership and the work of car
ing for them encourages system skill,
and judgment. Participation in the care
of a community garden does not develop
the idea of individual responsibility and
consequently interest and industry are
usually lacking
The limited area usually available for
school garden work makes it imperative
that tall-prOwing, broad-eaVed, and
climbing plants must be excluded Rad
ishes, lettuce, beans, beets, tomatoes, and
other plants which grow in a compact
bush form are recommended for school
garden work
In the first plan recommended by the
government specialists the rows run the
short way of the garden, and with the
exception of tomatoes are all foot apart
| Tomatoes are planted IS to 20 inches apart
| thus giving more room for the plants to
! spread than would otherwise he secured.
IN ORDER TO make the fullest use OF the
area a rotation OF crops has been ar
ranged. Inc qulck-maturlng crops are
painted in groups Whlch provides a con-
siderable area Tor replantlng as soon as
the crops mature
me second garden is or the same area
as the vegetable garden. The rows are
one loot apart, with the exception of the
radishes, which are six inches. The
plants are grouped according to height
of growth so as to place the tall-growing
| plants in the center of the garden with
lowgrowing plants at the ends In this
case it will he noted that tomatoes are
used only as a succession or rotation crop
following radishes and lettuce.
The children should be allowed to do
all the work Of preparing the land as
we'll as planting the seed and caring for
the plants This can he accompanied by
instruction in soil physics, the teacher
explaining the reason for each step. The
methods of planting and cultivating the
vegetables in the garden are described in
Farmers Bulletin 2lS in part as follows:
| Radishes-The seeds should be sown in
drills, in rich, well-prepared soil, placed
about half an inch apart and buried not
deeper than one inch nor less than one
half inch. When the plants are showing
the second set of true leaves they should
l,
inches apart in the row.
Lettuce-The seeds should he sown in
drills in the open or in boxes in the win
dow. If in the open, the seeds should be
scattered about one half inch apart along
the row. and covered not more than one
half inch with earth. Firm the earth well
over the seeds as to bring the moist
soil in contact with them When the
plants are we'll up. thin to six inches
apart in the row. If the seeds We're sowr
in a window box hotbed, frame or green
house, transplant the young plants tt
stand two by two inches apart as soor
as the seed leaves are well expanded
and when they begin to crowd transfer
them to their permanent places in tho
open, if the weather VIII permit. In the
field, they should stand at least six inches
|
Reans--It is best to wait and plant The
seeds of this plant in the open where th'
plants are to grow, delaying the work I'M
til severe frostS are past. Plant in row
one foot apart, placing the seeds abou
two inches deep at intervals of six inches
Keen the soil loose and free from weeds
Beets-Beets. while they are hardy ant
can be planted at the same time as rad
ishes and lettuce. require a longer season
for maturing than lettuce. radshes an
I beans The seeds should be planted il
rows one foot apart, placed an inch apar
in the row and covered one inch deep
When the plants are we'll up Gwo inche
. high, thin to four inches apart in tn
row. Keep the soil well titled al all times
, Tomatoes-The tomato is the most eX
acting Of all the plants included in tn
collection. From Washington southwar
Il the seeds may be planted in the open a
t the same time as leans but to the mort
e Of this point the seeds should be sown i
e boxes. hotbcds. or greenhouses from tn
= first 10 the middle of March, the youn
f plants heing transpanted to Stand tW-
: by two inches apart as soon as the frs
crowd in their new positions, shift ther
y to four-lnch pots or TO Tin cans in Whic