Scouting For Girls, Official Handbook of the Girl Scouts Part 83

[Ill.u.s.tration: GARDENER

SYMBOL--TROWEL]

The test may well be worked for by a patrol or even a troop who can share expenses for tools, and cultivate together a larger plot of ground than would be possible for any one girl. Arrangements may frequently be made through the school garden authorities.

Alternate: For Scouts already members of the Girls' Garden and Canning Club throughout the country, a duplicate of their reports, sent in for their season's work, to the State agricultural agents, or agricultural colleges, in cooperation with the Department of Agriculture of the United States, may be submitted as their test material for this badge, in place of the Test given.

1. What are the necessary things to be considered before starting a garden? List them in the correct order.

2. What exposure is best for the garden? Why? At what season of the year is it best to prepare the soil? What care should be given garden tools?

3. Why is it necessary to fertilize the soil for a garden? What kind of fertilizer will you use in your garden, and why?

4. Do all seeds germinate? What precautions must be taken when purchasing seed? During what month should seed be sown in the ground in your locality? What are the rules for sowing seed as regards depth?

5. What does it mean to thin out and to transplant? When and why are both done?

6. What does it mean to cultivate? Why is it very important? How is it best done? What should be done with pulled weeds?

7. When is the proper time of day to water a garden? Is moistening the surface of the ground sufficient? If not, why not?

8. Name five garden pests common in your locality and tell how to eradicate them. Name three garden friends and tell what they do.

9. At what time of day is it best to pick flowers and vegetables? Mention two things to be considered in both cases.

10. What are tender and hardy plants? Herbaceous plants, annuals, perennials and biennials? Bulbs and tubers?

11. Select a garden site, or if s.p.a.ce is lacking use boxes, barrels, window boxes, tubs and so forth; prepare the soil, choose the seed of not less than six flowers, and six vegetables that will grow well in the soil and climate in which they are planted; take entire care of the garden and bring to blossom and fruit at least 75 per cent. of the seed planted. Keep and submit a record of the garden, including size, time and money spent, dates of planting, blooming, and gathering of vegetables, or colors of flowers, and so forth.

REFERENCES:

"Harper's Book for Young Gardeners," A. H. Verill, Harper.

"Beginner's Garden Book," Allen French, Macmillan.

"Home Vegetable Gardening from A to Z," Adolph Krulm, Doubleday.

"Suburban Gardens," Grace Tabor, Outing Publis.h.i.+ng Co.

"The Vegetable Garden," R. L. Watts, Outing Publis.h.i.+ng Co.

[Ill.u.s.tration: HANDY-WOMAN

SYMBOL--HAMMER]

1. Know how to mend, temporarily with soap, a small leak in a water or gas pipe.

2. Know how to turn off the water or gas supply for the house and whom to notify in case of accident, OR

Know what to do to thaw out frozen water pipes, OR

Be able to put on a washer on a faucet, OR

Cover a hot water boiler neatly and securely to conserve the heat, using newspaper and string.

3. Know the use of and how to use a wrench and pliers.

4. Demonstrate the way to use a hammer, screw-driver, awl, saw can-opener, corkscrew.

5. Locate by sounding, an upright in a plaster wall, and know why and when this is necessary to be done.

6. Put up a shelf using brackets, strips of wood or both and know under what conditions to use either.

7. Be able to put up hooks for clothes or other articles and properly s.p.a.ce them.

8. Be able to measure for and put up a rod in a clothes closet, OR

Be able to repair the spring in a window shade and tack the shade on the roller, OR

Know how to keep clean and care for window and door screens.

9. Must wrap, tie securely and neatly, and label a parcel for delivery by express or parcel post.

10. Be able to sharpen knives using either a grindstone, whetstone, the edge of an iron stove, or another knife.

11. Clean, trim and fill an oil lamp, or put on a gas mantle, OR Clean, oil and know how to repair the belt of a sewing machine, OR Lay a fire in a fireplace and tell what to do with the ashes.

12. Choose a wall s.p.a.ce for a picture, measure for the wire, fasten the wire to the picture frame and give the rule concerning height for hanging pictures.

13. State how brooms, dry mops, dustpans, and brushes should be placed when not in use, and be able to wash brushes and place them properly for drying.

REFERENCES:

"What a Girl Can Make and Do," Lina Beard, Scribner.

"Harper's Handy Book for Girls," A. P. Paret, Harper.

"Handicraft for Handy Girls," A. N. Hall, Lothrop.

"In the Days of the Guild," L. Lamprey, Stokes.

[Ill.u.s.tration: HEALTH GUARDIAN***

SYMBOL--THE CADUCEUS]

I. Recreation and Health. What is offered to the public in the town you live in, or in that part of the city in which you live, in the way of Play Grounds, Gymnasiums, Baths, Skating Rinks, Tennis Courts, Golf Links, Water Sports?