§ Mr. C. BATHURSTasked how many elementary day schools possessed gardens cultivated by the children themselves; what was the total number of scholars for whom instruction in gardening grants were paid; how those figures compared with those for the school year 1902–3; and in what proportion of the above schools was the work inside the school correlated with that done in the gardens?
§ Mr. J. PEASESo far as the Board have figures on the subject, the number of school gardens has increased from 379 in 1902–3 to 1,880 in 1909–10; the number of scholars in respect of whom the special grant for gardening was paid was 5,501 in 1902–3 and 29,679 in 1909–10. Full returns for the year just elapsed are not yet available, but it is believed that the number of schools giving practical instruction in gardening must have been upwards of 2,000. As regards the last part of the question, the Board have no information which can be presented in statistical form, but they have reason to believe that many 1477 local education authorities are fully alive to the importance of such correlation and are doing their best to secure it.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTDo I understand that the latest figures available are for the school year 1909–10?
§ Mr. J. PEASEYes.
§ Mr. WHITEHOUSEAre any of the schools referred to within the county of London?
§ Mr. J. PEASEI must ask for notice of that question.