Show GARDENS FOR LITTLE FOLKS four pieces of ground set apart for instruction of f children in dig 1319 english metropolis tho the question of playgrounds la Is often discussed and open spaces have bavo been provided in many vaa of london where the children maly mav go to play but this to la hardly 11 y enough thoy they car ry their slums with them in recognition of this difficulty and with tho the brave hope ot of providing not rio only tonly play grounds but some instruction and more moio refined interests for the children a society was formed two years ago to raise funds tor for the purpose of con averting waste places in the poorer districts of london into gardens for children tho the society rents at a low rate a vacant building site or other available plot of ground in a poor district and provides a teacher general ly a lady with some training as a gardener and a love tor for children also a man as caretaker caretas er tor for each site seeds plants and tools are also proa t 4 botany lesson bided vided by the society and a shed ched or small garden house in which to kep keep them the ground to Is divided into small plots generally each about six feet by four leet feet with narrow paths patha between them and one such plot Is given to each child for his or her very own every plot has a label with a name or number on it the children are made responsible tor for the cultivation of their own gardens and everything that comes out of them Is taken home vegetables are most popular such euch as aa lettuces lettu ces radishes beetroot and mus tard and cress because even on a very small email scale they form a welcome ad to the family menu but lowers flowers are not forgotten and the children are allowed to choose what they will grow such as mignonette cornflowers corn flowers nas lum etc ost of the gardens tave a general border in which peren nial plants may be et arted and a knowledge of their habits and growth taught to the children the society has been able to start tour four gardens in different parts of london each garden contains on an average about one hundred plots for the children the caretaker does the rougher and heavier part of the digging required especially in starting the gardens and helps to keep order among the boys the rules are very few and simple but the children have to promise to keep them 1 to be obedient 2 to be fair to each other 3 not to make noises that will annoy others there Is little difficulty because there Is great competition among the children at school for a garden gaiden and the fc fear ar of losing such a privilege Is a strong factor in helping to keep order the teacher instructs the children in every process of gardening weeding digging seed sowing thinning out seedlings hoeing watering tying up lettuces lettu ces and pruning where creepers or trees of any kind are available in the little garden house are kept the tools and watering cans spare seeds which the children are taught to know by sight eight and the books and pencils for noting the dally daily occurrences in the garden the state of the weather drawings of plants etc these notes are not easy to keep going but they are a f 00 washing vegetables great help in trailing clid dren to ba b observant the elements of botany are taught in ft a way that interests and amuses the children and little object lessons are given showing for instance that seeds must be kept dry by allowing some of them to sprout ou a damp cloth |