AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE E. J. WICKSON, DIRECTOR BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA CIRCULAR No. 62 ~i[AY, ]911 THE SCHOOL GARDEN IN THE COURSE OF STUDY BY ERNEST B. BABCOCK AND CYRIL A. STEBBINS School gardens and elementary school agriculture are often con- sidered as mere phases of the great subject of Nature-Stud:", meaning br this term-"the observational study of common objects and activi- ties from the standpoint of human interest in our every day lives." But the school garden, on the one hand, has certain intrinsic values which cause it to appeal to pupilfl, teachers and patrons, while agri- culture, on the other hand, as a grammar grade subject is rapidly being incorporated into county courses of study throughout this State. Garden work has well been called a fundamental prerequisite to real nature-study. Xlueh of the nature-teaching can be done in connec- tion with the garden. It may prepare for and grow out of the garden- ing processes and experience. Moreover, the garden offers the best opportunity to start nature study. It is definite and of necessity brings the child into touch with natural objects and forces. It should be the center from which radiate various lines of work. "Instead of insects, birds, weeds, soils, etc., as isolated topics, they should be taken up in connection with the plants with which they are biologically and economically related. "i:' At the same time the garden work can be correlated with all the regular subjects. Best of all it makes for char- acter building through emphasis of individual responsibility and practical ethics. Agriculture has been adopted as a grammar grade subject in many counties of California. But, owing to the lack of a definite, progres- sive plan of garden work, the study of agriculture has amounted to little more than the reading of supplementary texts. Grammar grade agriculture should build upon and supplement the nature-study of the primary grades and the school garden should furnish the actual basis of the work throughout the whole course. * Coulter-Patterson, "Practical ~ ature Study," Appletons. 2 The chief aim and business of nature-study in the lower primary grades is the gathering of precepts, the getting of experience, with as many different objects in nature as possible, to know their name~ and something of their relations to each other and to man. So with garden work here. The first gmde children can profitably spend some periods in the garden, watching the older children at work, learning the names of tools, seeds and plants. But a little space should always be reserved for the special work of the first grade. Class exercises may consist of planting bulbs in the fall and in the spring a bed of sunflowers and a row of popcorn. These will furnish good material for life history studies. The sunflower seeds will attract birds as they ripen and the popcorn can be used at 'l'hanksgiving time. Second grade children should have some individual garden work if possible. Plots not smaller than 3 by 5 feet for one or two pupils will allow the cultivation of one vegetable and one flower. These should be large-seeded and quick-growing like peas, string-beans, radish, nasturtiums, zinnias and four-o-clocks. 'reach by demonstra- tion lessons requiring them to repeat what they have seen you do. Use earliest maturing varieties. Gather for use at school or home. Save seeds. In the third grade we usually find Home Geography called for. In connection with this what could be more helpful than to have the children learn to grow some of the food crops that are raised" around home" and perhaps some desirable ones that are not commonly grown or, if common, not always well grown. For example, our 0]{1 friend, the lettuce, is all too frequently sown thick and broadcast and thinned only as some is needed for the table. But it is very little trouble to transplant and then it can be set far enough apart so it will head and so produce the same kind of lettuce we buy in the market. This crop is quickly grown. Yet it gives the practice in transplanting and, with this mastered in the fall, the following spring many of the more diffi- cult vegetables can be handled, such as cabbage, cauliflower, and kohl rabi, tomatoes, peppers and egg plant, besides such small seeded flowers as pansies, asters, and cosmos. The third grade pupils should have good stiff practice in preparing the seed bed or boxes, sowing, watering, transplanting and cultivating their crops. Community work may consist of some effort at beautifying the school yard, keeping it clean, planting something ornamental, subject to the fundamental principles of landscape art which the teacher should understand." * Consult Bailey's" Manual of Gardening." Macmillans. 3 In the fourth grade special attention should be given to the eco- nomic phase. Food and fiber plants other than those produced at their homes should be grown in community plots-cotton and flax, mulberry trees, field crops like potato, wheat, sugar beets, etc. The sugar beets can be pulled, cleaned, topped, sliced and stewed to extract the sugar and water evaporated so as to show the sugar present. In a grain region the leading cereals should be grown and for this pur- pose the Experiment Station at Berkeley will furnish free seed. In the individual gardens some one crop should be so well grown that the produce can be marketed. With a little encouragement many children will do this at home to the great delight of their parents and with the preparation suggested in the second and third grades they ought to succeed. In case this is undertaken at home, the individual plots at school may be used for practice in propagation by bulbs and tubers. Freesias, gladiolus, dahlias and onions can be raised from the seed and the young bulbs saved. Transplant native bulbs from the wild. The garden can be made to vitalize the geography study of these grades. In the fifth grade we come to a period where the nature-study work has usually frittered out. In order to avoid this weakness it is well to intensify on one or two important lines. The topics of greatest interest and value to the pupils are trees and birds. The two go naturally together and, while they should be included in the miscel- laneous studies of earlier years, fifth grade boys and girls are capable of and take more interest in such intensive study. Pinchot's" Primer of Forestry" can be secured from the Secretary of Agriculture, Wash- ington, D.O., in two parts as Farmers' Bulletins 173 and 358 in num- bers sufficient for class use. For the teacher Fernow's "Oare of Trees" will be a most useful help. Best of all, the garden can furnish the introduction and basis for this tree study. With the preparation they will have had in the lower grades, or even without it, if the teacher understands the essentials to success, these boys and girls can successfully raise many of our commonand some of our rare trees and shrubs from the seed or from cuttings. Work of this kind will be more valuable to them than all the field trips and class room work. It is one thing to read about conservation. It is quite another thing to plant an acorn or a pine seed and care for the growing tree through the years. Arbor Day is all too often a farce, but tree growing and tree study as a fifth grade study will give an intelligent appreciation of what it means to pro- duce forests and the value of individual trees. (See" Tree Growing 4 in the Public Schools," Circular 59, Agricultural Experiment Station , Berkeley.) It will be necessary to conduct the tree growing as a class exercise the teacher giving directions and demonstrations which the pupils carry out. Individual plots can be used later in the season for grow- ing the seedling trees. In the fall the young bulbs raised during the previous year should be planted and brought into bloom. The life history of biennials should be worked out by planting beets, turnips or cabbages that have been stored. Sometimes these and others like salsify are left in the ground from the previous year. They should be cared for and studied when they come into bloom and the seed saved. Whenever seed is saved in this or earlier years, the fundamental principle in plant improvement-selection of seed from superior indi- viduals-should be emphasized. (See Chapter IX in IIilgard and Osterhout's text.) In the sixth gmde pupils should perform some school room experi- ments on the plant as a living machine and the conditions necessary for its success; conditions necessary for the germination of seeds, the soil, what it is, and what is going on in it, and the relation between the plant and the soil. Simple experiments are now devised for teach- ing these things in the elementary school. They are set forth in their relation to agriculture in the first few chapters of "Agriculture for Schools of the Pacific Slope" by Hilgard and Osterhout. In schools where there has been no garden, such a series of experiments form the best preparation for the garden work of the grammar grade pupils. When garden work has been introduced in the lower grades already, the work of the sixth grade may center on more difficult phases of plant propagation. The art of propagating plants from seeds, bulbs, cuttings, and buds is a fascinating subject to old and young and chil- dren seldom tire of the simple experiments that can be devised in order to answer the questions which 'their own curiosity will prompt them to ask. In any previous gardening, the class will have begun to learn the art of seedage in its simpler phases, but there is much more that can be learned to advantage. The preparations for starting a school nursery will introduce new problems. At this point, explain the reason for growing budded or grafted fruit and nut trees. l\Iake a seed bed and stratify the seeds of stone fruits, pome fruits, walnuts, etc., dur- ing fall or winter. When the seeds begin to sprout plant them about six inches apart in the nursery row and bud them in June or Septero- 5 bel'. In case of failure to make buds "take" the tree can be used again the following spring or fall. Any of the texts on agriculture give simple directions for budding and grafting, and Bailey's "]Uanual of Gardening" gives full details. 'When the budded trees have made a year's growth give each pupil a tree to take home. Estab- lish a custom in the school. The growing of bulbs from the seed has been suggested for the fourth grade. The cutting of hyacinth and lily bulbs so as to secure young bulbs or offsets will prove interesting. A single scale from a lily bulb will form small bulb lets when planted in rather dry soil. Hyacinth and tulip bulbs may be cut in two or slashed in various ways and planted again. This should be done during spring or summer after flowering. The hotbed and cold frame will furnish much good practice,- making and caring for them, including watering and ventilating; raising early cabbage, tomato and pansy plants, etc. Then these same frames may be used for a detailed study of soft and hard wood cut- tings of rose, heliotrope, fuchsia, etc. Cuttings of grapes, currants and other bush fruits may be "heeled in" in the cold frame until callus forms. Directions for making cold frames, hotbeds, etc., will be found in Bailey's" Manual of Gardening," which is the most useful general reference book on gardening for the school library. :\Iacl\Iil- lans, $2. Seventh and eighth grade pupils should grow more difficult vege- tables such as asparagus, rhubarb, celery, sweet potato, and flowers such as petunias, begonias, gloxinias, for all of which the hot bed and cold frame will be useful. The element of doing should still predominate and pupils should depend on their gardens or other experiments for data. Problem experiments connected with crop production-best methods of irriga- tion and cultivation; individual work in crop improvement including seed selection (see Circular 46, Agricultural Experiment Station, pp. 21 and 26, also IIilgard and Osterhout's text, Chapter IX). Quanti- tative work based upon plot dimensions-area expressed in frac- tions of an acre, rate of application of fertilizers in plot experiments, amount of products in weight, estimated yield per acre, gross and net returns, etc. Distinct problems for boys and girls should be planned. For example, the boys may choose special problems in the culture of farm crops and the girls, problems connected with landscaping home or school grounds, the planning and planting of groups, borders and ornamental beds. 6 The course outlined above is progressive from grade to grade and so is adapted only to larger schools. Smaller schools will be compelled to handle the pupils in groups making the garden work progressive from year to year in those groups. The following scheme is suggested: Group I. Work suggested above for grades 1-3. Group II. Work suggested above for grades 4 and 5. Group III. Work suggested above for grades 6-8. "This organization of material unifies and increases its value from an educational standpoint. Indeed, if the full purpose of the garden work is carried out, it means more than the training of the hand in doing its part of the work successfully and skillfully. It means a training of the eye to see things as they are, a training of the mind to think logically and independently, to draw truthful conclusions and to recognize the dignity of the work. ,'* Many schools wish to begin the teaching of agriculture in the gram- mar grades even though the pupils have had no previous nature-study or garden experience. It should be remembered that the large aims of agriculture in the elementary school are threefold (1) to create a sympathy for farming, for country life; (2) to give new direction to many of the old subjects in the curriculum; (3) to link school and community life. The scope of these aims is far reaching, for agricul- ture, with the school garden as a basis, is potential in the direction of all those factors which make for good citizenship and happiness. Agriculture in the large sense does not mean merely the growing of a field crop, but it means bird life, insect life, weather conditions and other factors in relation to the field crop. Thus the great majority of teachers, whose lives have been far removed from these natural agencies, hesitate to attempt the teaching of agriculture although they feel its need. They are timid because of the lack of knowledge and naturally they ask, "How shall I teach agriculture." One of the delights in teaching is to discover and to learn with the children. As to the method of introduction, use the school garden, or if such is impossible, let the children start home gardens. Link the school life to that of the community. Observe the needs of the community, the school and its yard and let this observation direct the work in agricul- ture in a great measure. If a fresh lawn is needed at school let the children put it in, etc. Again the work of the community may well give direction to the gardening. A rural school situated in a fruit dis- trict should devote space to a nursery, etc. For the guidance of the teacher and supplementary reading in class, use Hilgard and Oster- hout's "Agriculture for Schools of the Pacific Slope." * Coulter-Patterson" Practical Nature-Study." 7 COURSE OF STUDY FOR ·SIXTH, SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADES SIXTll GRADE-FALL TERM The Soil: a) Characteristics of sand, clay, humus. b) How to better soil conditions. c) The relation of water to sand, clay and humus. d) How to conserve capillary and gravitational water. The Seed: a. What is a seed ~ b. The needs of the embryo plant. The subjects should be taught by class-room experiments set up by the teacher or by the pupils. The aim of the experimental work should be to direct conduct in the garden, to teach the children how to better the soil conditions; how to prepare the seedbed; how to plant seeds; how to care for the young plants. If the water conditions are such as to permit irrigation, start the gardens in the fall term. Select a plot, soak with water, and layout the gardens. Make the individual plots about 4 by 6 feet. (For further suggestions see "Suggestions for Garden Work in California Schools," Circular 46, Agricultural Experiment Station, Berkeley.) Grow the common vegetables and flowers. Vegetables: Raddish, lettuce, beets, carrots, parsley, turnips. Flowers: Sweet Alyssum, cosmos, poppies, sweet peas. Start pansies, stocks, coreposis, etc., in boxes to transplant later. After the first preliminary lessons to teach the children how to prepare a seed bed and how to plant their seeds, experimental studies should be sacrificed for garden work. However, as the gardens come to need less attention, study in the class-room and in the field may be resumed. The work of the stem: a) As a piping system to convey food and water to the roots and to the leaves. b) To lift the leaves to the sunlight. c) To lift the flower high for pollination and to insure a wider field for the dispersal of the seeds. d) As a storehouse for food as in celery. The work of the leaves: a) As a respiratory system of plants. b) As a means of protection from excessive heat. c) As a factor to control loss of moisture. d) As a soil builder. e) As a storehouse for food as in lettuce. 8 The work of the flower: a) To perpetuate the plant. 1. Pollination. a. Self fertilization. b. Cross fertilization. Seed dispersal. SPRING TERl\I If the gardens were started in the fall, carry them through the spring term, otherwise, as early as possible get them under way. Plant vegetables and flowers. Vegetables: Peas, beans (after frosts are over), potatoes, cabbage, toma- toes. Flowers: Transplant those started in boxes or hot beds. Sow in the open, nasturtium, zinnia, larkspur, ete., arranging for some color scheme. Grow economic plants-sugar beets, flax, hemp, castor beans, cereals, etc. Continue plant study as outlined in the fall term covering chapters I-X in IIilgard and Osterhout's book, emphasizing the experimental work. SEVENTH GRADE-F"\LL TERM The gardens will need immediate attention. If they have not been taken care of during the summer vaction by the children or the jani- tor, they will be overrun with weeds and many harmful insects will be at work. As the children meet these new factors they should be studied. For suggestions see the text recommended. Without a break in the continuity of the whole subject, birds should be studied as a natural check on insect life. Teach the children to recognize the "winter visitors which arrive in the fall. See" A Guide to the Birds of the Pacific Coast" by C. A. Stebbins, Berkeley, Cali- fornia. Harvest the economic plants. See the text for suggestions as to methods used in obtaining sugar from the sugar-beet, fiber from the hemp and flax, etc. The work with the economic plants points the way to a study of the work of the world. Lay aside a strip of the garden for a nursery. Plant peach and almond pits. Start apple trees from seeds or "piece roots." See "Tree Growing in the Public Schools," Circular No. 59, Agricultural Experiment Station, Berkeley. This material will furnish studies of plant propagation in the eighth grade. SPRING TERM Keep the gardens under way. Plant vegetables and flowers from a new point of view. Many uses may be made of the garden output: 9 (1) it may be eaten at school, (2) it may be taken home and given to parents, (3) it may be given to the poor, (4) it may be used for a schoolvegetable dinner, (5) it may be entered in exhibits. The great value of competitive exhibits at school or local, county or district fairs should not be overlooked. Award useful prizes. EIGHTH GRADE-FALL TERM Propagation of plants. a) By budding and grafting (using the seedlings planted the year previous.) b) By seeds. c) By cuttings-roses, geraniums, grapes, currants, fig. d) By layering-blackberries, raspberries, etc. e) By tubers-dahlia, iris, potato. f) By bulbs-lilies, hyacinths. The children should take part in doing the work suggested above. Study the weather in relation to plant life. See the text. The young seedlings are likely to be attacked by fungus diseases and certain insects. The control of these factors should receive careful study. Continuethe study of birds. SPRING TERM Keep the gardens under way, following a graded schedule for vegetables and flowers in order that experience may be obtained in growingthe different types of plants. The pupils may assist in mak- ing a planting chart for the locality. In relation to necessary agencies for plant growth, study bacteria in order to direct the conduct of the children toward better living. Seethe text for suggestions. Study the earthworm and such other low forms of animal life as are related to the welfare of the soil and to mankind. The course as outlined is very general. The chief aim has been to show the relation of the school garden to the class-room work. CALIFORNIA JUNIOR GARDENERS This is the name for an organization of the grammar grade pupils of California who are engaged in gardening. The College of Agri- culture publishes a paper twice each month during the school year, called "The Junior Agriculturist." It will be sent free to any grammar grade boy or girl in the State "whohas a garden. Teachers will find this paper an excellent means for interesting their pupils in the agricultural work. To give some idea of this publication, we herewith reproduce the followingsample pages: University of California, College of Agriculture, Berkeley, California. E. J. WICKSON, Dean. The Junior Agriculturist A LITTLE PAPER ISSUED TWICE A MONTH FOR THE BOYS AND GIRLS OF CALIFORNIA Vol. 1 Berkeley, California, APRIL 15, 1911. No.4 not only take work to win a banner but Communications should be sent to it will take work to keep it. C. A. STEBBINS, Editor The banners have arrived since the Berkeley, Calif. above was written. Mr. Baird's and Miss Agricultural Education Division. Van Mater's children received the banners for the first and second best groups. For the best individual garden banners were During the month of March, we given to Joseph Hooker and Roscoe Scam- visited a class of blind children twice to mon. teach them about our song birds. These poor children have a great deal of joy shut At the present writing we think the out of their lives. You would think it a gardens at the Niles school are the best. great hardship to have to be blindfolded The boys have built a fence around the one day. plot. The gardens are uniformly laid The first day we told them about the out, raised about three inches, and are- habits of the birds showing them how producing a fine growth of vegetables. We much value they are in helping to control are going to have a picture of the gardens the destructive insects. The stuffed skins in the "Junior" before long. of the birds, which many of you have seen, Some day if a big auto-truck rolls up. were then handled by the children. to your school filled with children, greet On the second day we all went out into them as gardeners from Niles, for seven- the fields. When a bird sang, the children teen of them are planning to rent such a were told its name and were allowed to car so as to visit the other school garden •. handle the stuffed skin of a similar bird. of Alameda County. We like this idea. The Thus they learned the songs of eight dif- children of Niles are "up-to-date." ferent birds. At our next visit, the chilo dren wiII remember these birds, even better * * The Decoto gardeners have made a than you would. large cardboard bird chart. Columns have 'I'he next time your tooth aches or been made for (1) the name of the bird, something else goes wrong just think of (2) when seen, (3) winter, permanent, or these blind children and be thankful that summer resident, or transient, (4) where your troubles are so small in comparison. it nests, (5) kind of food, (6) protected * * or unprotected, (7) name of the pupil who We wish to tell the Berkeley gardeners sees the bird first, (8) time of arrival or that four banners have been ordered. Two leaving. to be used as rewards to the two groups Several "summer residents" have just having the best gardens on the University arrived, (1) the russet-backed thrush, (2) campus and two to go to the two best the plain tit-mouse, (3) the chipping spar- individual gardens. Each gardening day row, (4) the black-headed grosbeak. We the gardens will be judged and the ban- think the varied thrushes have gone north. ners will be flown in their proper places. They wiII remain there from day to day so One class at San Lorenzo is putting in long as these gardens are the best. How- a lawn in front of the school house. The ever, if on succeeding days other gardens fifth grade chidren are growing flowers are judged the best, the banners wiII be and geraniums to place about the building- flown in their new places. Thus it will besides growing vegetables in their gardens. 11 If nothing happens the "Californiaplanting seeds. It is, plant seeds as deep Junior Pins" will be ready for distribution in the ground as three to five times their before long. They arc going to be given diameter. Seeds should always be planted to )'011. deep enough to rest in moist soil, regard- less of the rule. We have seen children plant seeds in dry soil. Since moisture is The Seed essential to plant growth, no results can, A seed is an embryo plant provided thus, be obtained. Large seeds may be hur- with food, usually, and a cover. The ried in germination by soaking in water embryo sleeps within its cover until awak- the night before planting. Often good reo ened by moisture. The moisture is neces- snIts may be obtained by digging the row sary in order to carry food to the small for the seeds, b,v filling with water, and plant. We learned in the previous les- after the water has soaked in, by sowing son that there is moisture in the soil, so the seeds in the trench. it follows that the first effort of the seed We hope that you have remembered is to bury itself. Observe a seed closely tnat plants are grouped into classes by the and you may see that its shape is such number of their cotyledons. For instance, that it may readily, with the help of winds monocotyledons are plants having one and rains, work its way into the soil. cotyledon, such as corn; dicotyledons have Many seeds have mechanical arrangements two seed leaves, the bean; polycotyledons which aid in burying them. Alfilaria seeds have many cotyledons, the pines. have a serew-Hke attachment which helps them to work into the soil and into your Questions clothing. The Jox-tn il has seeds which l. What is a seed I penetrate you r clothes very read.ily. Birds help to bu ry seeds. 2. What awakens the seed I With the seed bu ried by nature or b)' 3. How does the seed bnry itself? man, the water enters a little opening in 4. How does the water first enter the the seed called the micropyle. This mois- seed I ture sets up action in the seed, sugar is 5. What happens when water first made, and more water is drawn through enters the seed I the seed cover. The experiment which 6. What does the seed try to do with most of you have seen with the walnut its coat? shells taught you this. The cover which 7. Where is the food stored for the up to this time has been helpful to the small plant I seed is now a hindrance and the seed tries 8. What is the rule for planting seeds I to rid itself of its coat. Finally, the cover What determines this rule I splits and the little plant pushes its way, 9. IIow may germination be hurried? a part upward to become the stem and 10. How are plants grouped I leaves, a part downward to become the Many of our gardeners will recognize roots. The plumule becomes the stem and that some of the material found in the last leaves, the radicle becomes the roots. two numbers of the "Junior" reviews the In order to form roots and leaves, food lessons given b)' the student teachers. is necessary. The chick comes from the This plan is going to help you to rernem- egg and runs abou t immediately to find ber what is taught you. its food. The little plant cannot do this so nature has placed its food close at hand, in the seed leaves, or cotyledons. In the CHILDREN'S ARTICLES case of the bean the seed draws for a long time on the seed food, sometimes until How Deep to Plant Seeds the plant is four or six inches high. By Gardening is very interesting for me. this time the roots have formed and have I have alwavs planted my things so deep begun to draw upon the soil for mineral in the ground that they never succeeded food, the leaves have begun using the air in coming up. I have learned now how for food. The pansy seed has very little far down to plant seeds. IVe had an plant food for its embryo. The bean has experiment and quite far down we a great deal. These facts tell us something planted a seed and a little higher up an- about the depth to plant seeds. The small other until we planted another seed in the seed planted deep would not fnrnish the right place. The one in the right place embryo enough food to help it to the sun- is quite high now. The others are still light. We know a general rule to use in struggling to get up to the light. I 12 remember one time I had some very nice proves that heat was the controlling fDctor seeds and I went out and dug a great hole alone. and dropped them in. It is over a year now and I have had nothing from my A Seed seeds. I have learned how far down to A seed is a tiny plant surrounded by plant my seeds and the next time I shall food. It needs plenty of air, moisture, know and may be I shall have some heat and good soil. The parts of a seed flowers. I have learned the rule which are the coat, micropyle, cotyledons and is to plant the seed from three to five embryo. In showing how the seed needed times the smallest diameter. ail' we tied some seeds in cotton and put MELIA FARWELL. them into a bottle with water, then we put High 5th Grade. Oakland. in the cork to shut out the air. 'fhen we took a glass and put some cotton and Plants Need Light seeds into it with a little water and did not shut out the air. The 011es we put '1'0 be sure that a plant needed light, into a glass have come up very well, and we tried an experiment in our class room. are green, and the one we put in the bot- We had made a small garden in a box. We put a cardboard box over a pea plant. tle is not sprouted, so that showed that 'I'he box kept the light from the plant. a seed needs air. This tells us that soil must be prepared so that seeds will get About two weeks after we took it off to see what the result was. The plant had air. HOPB REIGNER. turned yellow. The other plants that did B 5th Grade. Oakland. not have any box over them were green. This experiment shows that a plant needs My Garden light. One corner of our school yard about VERNA JEFFERY. fifty feet long and thirty feet wide, has been 5th Grade, Washington Echool, set aside for our vegetable garden. Oakland. Some of the bovs di vided it into twenty- flve garden plots, each eight feet long and five feet wide, with a path two feet wide Plants Need Heat on three sides. The plants need heat. If you plant Each of us has chosen one of these some seeds in the shade and then plant plots for his own garden which he must some in the sun you will flnd that the one dig, plant and take care of. you put in the sun will come up flrst. We We had just begun digging when the proved this by planting some seeds in two rain came along and made us stop. cans. Vve put one away from the sun and I am going to plant radish, lettuce, and one in the sun. The one in the sun is peas in my garden. I know I shall enjoy lots larger than the other one. taking care of it and watching the plants JAMES REED. grow. A 5th Grade. Oakland. When ou r pl an ts are grown we are Possibly the presence of more light had going to exhibit them. more to do with rapid growth than the JOSIE ANDERSOK. difference in heat. This experiment hardly San Leandro School.