Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 161, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 July 1916 — HOME TOWN HELPS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HOME TOWN HELPS

LET EACH CHILD HATE PLOT Bchool Gardens Bhould Be Divided 8o as to Give an Individual Responsibility. Pupils should have individual gardens. Give each child a plot and have the respohsibility his alone if only a single plant can be grown on that plot, or use a pot plant, advises the Washington Star. Let the child see the result of his care or neglecL This cannot be accomplished where several children work in the same plot or care for the same plant. Not many grown people, if they are really good gardeners. would care to have each of the neighbors come in and take a hand at his garden. Individual work stimulates the interest and pride in the work, encourages skill and judgment that is entirely lost by collective work and at the same time develops the idea of responsibility. Limited space necessitates the use of only compact, low-growing plants. In vegetables, radishes, lettuce, beans, bqets and similar plants. The children should do all the work, preparing the land, planting the seed and caring for the plants, the teacher explaining each step. Bulletin 218 of the department of agriculture describes the work and it is sent free on application. From Washington southward seeds may be planted in the open ground, but in the North the seeds should be sown in boxes and kept growing until the middle of May to the first of June, according to the latitude, when they can be planted in their permanent locations. Flowering plants that are good for the purpose are ageratum, nasturtium, petunia, California poppy, zinnia and portulaca.