ways has, in addition to the individual plots, certain sample plots of grains, etc., and a portion of this space may be reserved for grade work, each grade, and the kindergarten, being represented by a plot. Visiting classes may thus be given a small share in the actual work, as well as opportunities for observation.

Visits to the garden may begin with soil preparation. The work will

be class work, perhaps, but it has a value. Following the preparation of the soil come laying out of plots, pathmaking, planting, hoeing, weeding, watering, transplanting, thinning out, observation of growth, roots, leaves, flowers, seeds, with all the incident songs and stories.

What may be taught? The colors, red, blue, green, yellow, and violet; the names of the flowers and vegeta

the

clear it of stones and rubbish. Cover with well rotted stable manure, quantity depends on the condition of the soil. Plow or dig the ground at least to the depth of eight inches. Remove stones and hard lumps, and

pulverize the earth with hoe and spade.

Lay out plots and walks. Sow seed in furrows, eight inches to two feet apart. (This refers to gardens where it is desired to make the best possible

use of a small amount of space.) If you always sow one foot apart, you cannot go far wrong. Sow small seeds one quarter inch below the surface, large, one to two inches deep.

Send to the Department of Agriculture for the seeds. They will cost you nothing. The amount of seed per hundred feet of row, the time to plant, and many suggestions are to be found on the outside of each package. The department also furnishes various bulletins describing methods of growing vegetables and flowers, which may be had for the asking.

When plants appear, hoe between rows. Loosen earth to a depth of four inches when possible.

Water about twice a week, or when needed. To test whether the earth needs water, remove the top four inches of soil. If any of it is dark brown and moist, the earth needs no water. Water thoroughly. A sprinkling of water is worse than no water. Never water at noon, but in the early morning, or late in the afternoon. Never let the earth bake and form a crust around the plants. Pull weeds as fast as they appear.

In thinning out plants that have been sown too thick, gauge the distance between by the size of the plant when full grown, and space them accordingly. For instance, thin radishes. to one inch apart, beets, to fourinches.

If you will follow these suggestions your garden will not fail, and the experience gained in one season will give you courage to go on. Have a garden. If the start be but a few plants on the window sill, let your kindergarten have in it, life. If you are in a city or town where there is a garden, visit it. The work is new, and has by no means reached its perfection. It needs every encouragement, every suggestion for improvement, that a thinking teacher can give. If you do not believe in gardens, if you think they are fads, have a garden. Perhaps not until you, too, have watched that mystery of growth, have followed the cycle from seed to seed, will you see the value of that association with nature that it is so hard to find words to express. Inconclusion: Have a garden, if you: know not peas from lettuce.