Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-20
RDENING AND OUR
NATION AL FOOD PROBLE M
ANSWERED QUESTION
BY A. e. Hamilton

turally come up in the making Of a
first class garden?'
These fifty-two boys, ranging from
to IA years of age, welcomed the pro-
posal with reclamation.
First came debates as to the major
proposals involved. 1t was decided
that before any work was begun re-
search must be made. Committees
were appointed to visit neighboring
farms to observe gardening methods.
Committees wrote letters to the gov
eminent and to seed and garden nipple.
ment manufacturers for fullest infor-
nation on gardening. The woods were
explored for their deepest beds of hu.
mus. Then the boys turned carpen-
ters
Making hotbeds meant a learning OF
board measure for every step in their
making was to be gone through very
thoroughly by each boy.
Immediately the boys were con-
fronted with the measurement of trap
ezoids. for the ends of the botbeds
must slant. There was the calculation
of the number Of board feet needed
for the frames, the number of nails
needed to put them together, the
amount Of glass and putty needed for
glazing Orders for materials must be
drafted and approved by the teacher.
What text book could interest boys
as did this, their practical job?
The cooperation of the wood shop
mechanical drawing department and
farm was next enlisted and plans were
drawn I'D in class time for final opera
tons.
The boys dug the pits, sorted and
sifted the fertilizers, built the bases
for the frames. made new frames, re-
paired old ones. cut glass, put In panes
and painted their finished work Then
thov set seed for early garden produce
and returned to their major work on
the gardens.
THE GARDENS.
A field was selected back of wood
land lot. orders were obtained from
the farm for it's blowing with the big
tractor on which some of the older
boys might learn engineering lessons,
and the trigonometry class was re-
Cuested to survey the field in accord
with plans furnished by the grade
boys The seniors had their smile at
this busincsslike proposal from 1.-The
kids" but they were game for fun and
did their part thoroushly and well.
Then came class debates as to de-
tails The following propositions were
up first in the form of questions. and
then drawn up as working plan ap-
proved by the majority and sanctioned
by the teacher, who was given the
role OF manager:
Here is the general plan of the
gardens:
l. Standard size of gardens shall be
90 by 80 feet
2, Gardens shall be grouped so each
owner can have easy excess to his
plot without trespassing.
3. Gardens to he carefully laid out
and numbered, then assigned by lot.
T. Each boy to have a separate gar
den for which he alone is responsible.
There shall be no partners.
5. Persons. however, may cooperate
with each other.
CATER allotment is made. persons
may exchange plots in order that con-
genial cooperators may be near each
other. provided the manager approves.
Z. Each person furnishes. through
requisition to manager, his own hoe
and rake and seeds.
s. All other tools needed will be
furnished by the school.
9. What. how, when to plant and
how to cultivate shall be determined
by each boy on the advice of the man.
ager and experienced gardeners desig-
mated by the manager.
TO- The manager shall select GER
tain work periods. probably equivalent