The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-04-23
SCHOOL GARDENERS
I|R[ HARD At WORK
Gardening to Be Taught in
Grade School Class
I, rooms.

The various schools in the city are
planning for larger gardens this year
Than ever before. At the High school
"a the agricultural class, gardens have
been given each person, with about 100
pupils enrolled. Already these gardens
are being worked; and radishes, on
ions, lettuce and peas have been plant.
ed. The acre lot on Coal run hollow
owned by Sam II. Nuzum has becn
donated by him for use again this year.
This ground is very good and the use
Of IT, lis much appreciated by the High
school pupils. 1t has been used FOL
about four years. Tom Parks Elem.
ing donates the ground between Be-
nonf avenue and Coleman on Fifth
street which covers about an acre and
this has been laid out in individual
gardens and allotted to members Of
the agriculture class. No other pupils
at the high school will have school
gardens In these locations.
3. NJ. Musgrove has charge of the
garden work, assisted by Miss Fran
sces Frost, teacher OF Botany. Miss
Frost Is new teacher who has been
IN charge for about year. This year,
more than ever before, pupils are to be
taught that gardens are necessary to
take care of food necessities at home;
IN order that as much food as is posi-
bic may be sent to the starving men,
women and children in other lands
The need for saving by producing food
Is brought especially to the attention
of students this year.
For one dollar which each student Is
asked to pay, each garden is plowed
Narrowed and fertilizer is furnished
free. The text book, which teaches
gardening is studied during the first
part OF the year and this spring and
GUNNER the knowledge is put to practi.
cal application.
a A supervisor will be in charge dur
ing this summer, and each pupil signs
an agreement to keep his garden in
good condition. If the agreement is
not kept, the dollar is refunded and
the garden taken away Cold frames
have been covering various plants for
month now and soon these will be
set out. No potatoes, corn or vegeta-
hle covering too much ground will be
grown, Though the gardens numbe=
about 100, it is not difficult for each
owner to know his own. Gardens are
much like the individual who makes
them, and soon take on the personal.
sity of the boy or girl who attends to
them. Last year some very fine gar.
aens were grown-gardens which not
only the young people who planted and
ATTENDED them were proud Of but
which parents and teachers especially
praised.
The public schools will pay particu-
liar attention to garden work this year;
though plans are now not to have a
central garden, as was tried last year,
owing to the fact that ground for it
Is almost impossible to get. This year,
GLASSES will be formed beginning very
soon in the various schools and occu
pying two periods instruction a week.
Pupils will be asked to get permission
from their parents to use a small part
Of the family garden-a garden which
may belong entirely to them. A su.
pervisor will be furnished who will
help the boys and girls all during the
summer At present until school
Closes, the teachers and principal OF
the different grammar schools will
have charge of the work. When school
is out, M. II. Cole, principal Of the
White school, will take charge and
win remain in the city until the last
az August Just to take care Of his end
81 the task. The school children will
Be enrolled In Garden Armies, as they
will be called. Mr.. Cole will appoint
iedtenants and captains and these per-
sons will consult with him either at
Inherent schools OF at some garden
Whenever he calls them during the
s SIMMER.