Show Children Can Raise V cv Garden Ga By N NEA E A SERVICE Nowadays everyone young everyone young and old alike wants alike wants to make some contribution to the national al war effort so parents are asking Is there any way the children can help One very wry practical way school schoolchildren schoolchildren schoolchildren children can help is by planting planting planting plant plant- ing school gardens to increase food production under the food for freedom program and provide provide provide pro pro- vide more of the mineral mineral and and vitamin rich foods for school lunches or school food preservation preservation preservation tion projects Growing a school garden has considerable educational value too because It gives children a working knowledge of subjects such uch as nature study handicraft handicraft handicraft handi handi- craft and certain elementary sciences r Gardens L' L Teach Value ValueLess c 4 cLess Less obvious but equally valuable valuable valuable val val- the children learn to shoulder responsibility to to see through what they start They learn thrift as they conserve supplies of seed fertilizer and insecticides and with all this they have the satisfaction of giving patriotic service For many years the U U. S S. S department department department de de- de- de of agriculture has encouraged encouraged encouraged en en- planting school gardens gardens gardens gar gar- dens in most parts of the country country country coun coun- try to improve nutrition of school children and their families fam fam- Now that war has put even greater emphasis on importance importance importance im im- of proper nutrition for everybody the department suggests suggests suggests sug sug- that any school able to grow a successful garden do so Number of Factors Success of a sch school ol garden depends depends depends de de- de- de on a number of factors For one th thing ng it is important to start the garden on fertile well drained soil If the school grounds themselves are not suitable suitable suitable suit suit- able for a gard garden n a mind civic ed land owner near the school may be willing to have some of his land used by students for a war garden or to rent it to them at a low rate Unless a good garden site is available starting starting starting start start- ing a garden will be a waste of time seed insecticides and fer fer- Leadership Is Needed Experienced leadership is another another another an an- other important factor if the garden Is to be successful Often one or two teachers in school follow gardening as a hobby and have considerable experience in growing a home garden If there are no gardeners among the faculty the county agricultural agent home adviser or vocational vocational vocational voca voca- agriculture teacher in the high school may be willing to serve in a supervisory capacity While experienced leadership and guidance are essential as much responsibility as possible should be placed squarely on the shoulders of the students |