The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-04-15
ARE MANY
Regarding Flower Work Of Mime
apolis Improvement League.
LETTERS FROM MANY CITIES
The Journnl-Growth Of
the Work.

SThe flower work of the Minneapolis
Improvemnt League has attracted atten-
,tion all over the country. Regarding
:tssgrowth and in answer to many queries
Mrs. NJ. M. Barnard has written the fol-
lowing for The J OF IN a l:
Letters of inquiry concerning details
of the flower work of the Minneapolis I'm
proyement League are becoming SO fire.
Quent from persons far and near that the
flower committee is glad Of an opportunity
to explain through the columns of h e
J Q ii IN q the nature and scope OF this
phase of civic improvement which had
Its origin here in Minneapolis.
The object Of the Minneapolis Improve
ment league is to promote the health
beauty and cleanliness Of the city, and it.
Is the purpose of the flower department
to interest the children of the public
schools in the culture of flowers and
vegetables in their homes. The method
adopted Is the free distribution Of seed
through the medium of the schools with
the co- operation of the teachers. After
| eleven years experience the league has
now on it's list yearly average of thirty
four schools representing from $4,000 to
| 10000 children engaged in the culture of
| flowers and vegetables. Last year the
number was the largest that has ever
been, there being nearly 10000 children in
| fifty schools. For eight years only; flower
| seeds were given but In 1899 for the pur-
pose OF interesting some of the older boys
500 Packages of very desirable vegetable
seeds were distributed in five of the
schools. There were peas, beans, corn,
squash, onions and lettuce and for each
boy a package of either wat err melon or
musk-nelon seed. These last named were
by far the most popular in the spring.
The sentiment in the autumn was some
what varied, however, melons were In
great demand the following year but not
more so than the corn, beans, peas, etc.
Some of the Questions.
THE question most frequently asked by
those who are trying to- start the work
elsewhere are: How is the seed distrib-
uted? Do ycu buy the seed or how dc
you get 1t? When ard how are the prizes
awarded Please give details of method
THE rule in recard to prizes we have
been obliged to suspend temporarily be:
cause OF lack of funds and lack of workers
but we hcce it may be restored in. the
near future.
1--WE now purchase mcst of our seed al
though each spring good friends offer do
nations Of seeds and bulbs.
The work falls naturally under tw,
heads which by common consent have be
come established rules. In accordanc,
with rule l, any pupil in the public schoo
may have seed on one coldition-that h
promise to plant the seed and take car
of the garden himself In accordance
with rule 2, If of those children who re
ceived seed in any school room SO pc
cent are successful, thataroom is credite
: with "a: reward on two conditions-Al
: gardens must be reported by a specific
date; usually about the middle of July
all gardens mist be inspected by compe
, tent judges and reports must be sent t
) the chairman Of the flower committee o
$ or before saecified date, usually tn
5 middle Of September.