University of California Los Angeles - Bruin Life / Southern Campus Yearbook (Los Angeles, CA)

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stream to silver, while black shadows still lurk along the shores, and one ' s boat glides softly through light and shadow, and the spell of the night is on one ' s heart. The charm of this peaceful outdoor life laj ' S hold on the sojourner more and more as weeks roll by. He enjoys its unconventionalit} ' ; he delights in its freedom from rush and hurry and the strife for gain ; he takes increased delight in its simple pleasures ; and his soul opens wider day by da} ' to the sweet ministry of nature. It is little wonder that increasing hundreds seek health and pleasure in this region every year. For several miles up and down the beautiful river are scattered, singly or in groups, the camps and cottages of these summer pilgrims. -In remote farmhouses, too, miles away among the mountains, the summer boarder finds a peaceful retreat and helps to swell the farmer ' s scant} ' income. Many of these visitors to the Russian River return year after year. We met families that for a decade had never failed to make their annual pilgrimage to this spot. At first the new comer wonders at their constancy ; but when the charm of the place has entered his blood, he resolves to go and do likewise. And if, perchance, an unkind Fate forbids his return, he still looks longingly, as summer approaches, toward this home of woodland beauty and peace. —JOSEPHINE E. SEAMAN. .i uggesitions; for tlje i§ci)ool 25arben N the work to which the normal graduate goes forth, the school garden is so essential a feature that these few suggestions on its establishment and care are offered with the hope that they may be of general in- terest. The various points are discussed with the view of making the method of procedure logical and, in greater or less degree, comprehensible to children. Having the necessary space for the garden, what is the first step in its preparation? The schoolhouse is established so early in the life of a comnui- nity that it occupies ground that has never known the plow. Its grounds are virgin soil, so the first step is that of the pioneer — to break the sod. In your garden this is done by deep spading. A firmly trodden school yard will generally require a pick to precede the spade. But whatever the requirement, the result must be a deep and thorough stirring. The reason for this step may be con- sidered under the heads aeration, penetration and fertilization. Natural soil, like natural water, is a medium teaming with life. There are, besides the multitudes of visible forms, such as earth- worms, larvae, crickets, etc., the hosts of invisible bacteria which,

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green that meets the eye on every side is the peculiar charm of the landscape. The river that is the heart of the whole region winds with many a gracious curve between its mountains to the sea. Sometimes they stand back from it a little, leaving a strip of silver ' sand, or per- haps a level bluff or a sloping hillside, where there are houses and gardens and orchards ; but for the most part they gather clo.se about it as if they loved it. And no wonder ; for ever} ' bend in its course reveals some new beauty. There are long quiet stretches, where, when the wind is still, the river is like glass, and mirrors in its green depths mountain and .sk}- and passing cloud, so that to glide over it is like floating between two worlds. There are .shallows where the swift, bright water ripples noisily over its sands and peb- bles, and the rower ' s boat grazes the bottom as he passes. And along the banks, under the overhanging willows or in the shade of the great rocks, there are deep, dark pools which the bather shuns, but in which the wary fish love to lurk. The river does not alwa3 ' s flow along .so peacefully: mas.ses of debris high up in the willows show that it can rage tempestuously at times; but its summer mood is one of calm serenity. Such, too, .seems to be the mood of those who come to loiter awhile on its banks. The inconveniences incident to this woodland life — and in this case they are few and trivial — are lightly borne. Ivife moves easily along, because it moves in simple and natural channels, and evers day brings plea.sures that renew body and spirit alike. There are long nights of dreamless, life-giving .sleep. There are lazy noontide hours, when it is bliss to .swing idly in one ' s ham- mock and look up through the feathery foliage to the tender blue of the far-off sky, or gaze dreamily through the sunlit forest vistas, where lights and shadows are perpetually chasing each other as the breeze swa ' s the branches to and fro. There are invigorating tramps over the mountains, from which one returns laden with ferns or wild flowers or pails of luscious huckleberries. There are pleas- ant evenings around the camp fire, when the stars are gleaming overhead, and the leaping flames throw fantastic .shadows all about, and one ' s own enjoyment is enhanced b}- the .sounds of mu.sic and merry laughter from the neighboring camps. There are long, peace- ful hours on the river, sometimes in the morning, when the sky is still gra} ' with the fog that drifted in last night from the .sea, and the cool, moist air is unstirred by an}- breath of wind, and the only sound is the dip of oars in the water ; .sometimes in the brightness of the early afternoon, when the fresh sea breeze, sweeping up the canyon, has .set all the willow leaves a-quiver, and broken up the surface of the water into a million dancing wavelets that flash in the sun.shine; sometimes in the early gloaming, when the soft white wi.sps of fog are again stealing over the mountain tops, and then, little by little, enveloping their .sides in a gray mist, and floating slowly downward to mingle with another silvery mist that is creep- ing along the surface of the water ; or later in the evening, when the full moon, hanging above the tree tops, has turned the mid-

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we have recently learned, are of such vital importance in determin- ing the richness of the soil. The little helpers, the bacteria, reduce their activity or lie dormant as the air supply is exhausted. An aeration of the soil revives their energies and provides for their numerical increase. The roots of plants spread out under ground in many cases to greater distances than do the branches above it. Roots breathe just as truly as we do, although, to be sure, less ac- tively. Entire exclusion of air from the soil smothers the plant. For these reasons, not only breaking the sod, but later and frequent tillage is advantageous. The importance of the admission of water into the lower strata of the soil cannot be too strongl}- emphasized. In California, the sunshine of which we are justly so proud, becomes a menace to plant and animal life. Our schools are, of course, located where water is accessible, but there are many reasons why, in school gar- dening, we should be careful to make the best use of the water furnished during the rainy season. First, teach the economy of water. In the great areas where water is so scarce the problem of water supply is the ruling question in the establishment of a new community or of an agricultural enter- prise. Such a matter should not be neglected in a community like ours. Children should be trained to handle the soil in such a waj- as to allow the least possible loss by evaporation. Second, the actual difficulties in the way of irrigating. Children of the lower grades are often furnished with little sprinkling pots which they are to fill at a central supply and carry to their own plats for irrigating their small crops. The result is too often muddy clothing and wet shoes for the child and an equally unhygienic con- dition for the plants. For the arduous task of carrying water soon exhausts the child; and the plants have too little water. Again, the water is showered upon the delicate plants till they are beaten down into the earth, the top soil becomes mud while the roots of the plant remain dry. A hard crust forms over the top as the earth dries, and the seedlings are clod bound ; a maximum of harm with a min- imum of good. If the school garden be in need of water, let it be furnished by the gardener on Saturday evening and given in adequate amount. B} ' Monda} morning the soil will be in good condition for the top mulch by the children. We desire them to conserve the natural soil moisture. First let us get it down out of the reach of the dry- ing effect of sun and air. This penetration is made more complete by deep spading. Even the freest soil will show a tendenc}- to be- come packed at the surface into a layer that sheds a large percent- age of the rain water where it falls at all rapidly. Some soils, indeed, become almost impervious to water. Often a water puddle that has stood in a slight depression for many daj ' S may be drained away into the lower soil strata by spading a few holes in the bottom of the depression. Water is not lost by thus penetrating the soil, for roots will seek it out if they are permitted; and by capillarity the moisture is drawn back toward the surface as this dries out.