Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-05-01
PLANTING SCHOOL GROUNDS
Results Accomplished BY Children in
Beautifying School Yards.


Less than two years ago, says Susan
Huntington Hooker in Country Life
in America describing the work of
school beautifying in Rochester; M Y,
We began ill II tentative way the work
u identifying the school yards. We
lad no definite plan asto@ ways and
means, but decided to begin with four
schools. we solicited trees and shrubs
from the nUTserymen, and in all cases
met with a generous response. Our
park superintendent gave his services
in planning ana supervising the plant
ing. and contributed many plants from
the park grounds. The Art Grub Of the
Wonen's Union offered prizes for the
yard showing the greatest improve
ment in the fall, pictures to be taken
befeFe~a44d after. We had a. large con-
tributi0n of seeds from q leading firm,
and prizes were offered for 4 flower
show to be given. in august. Some
seeds were planted in the school yards,
but most of them We're taken by the
ehifIren to their homes '.-st +e=. -.-aa'raa
OF the four schools selected one was
located in a large factory district, alb
solutely barren in the outlook ana sur
Toundings. Vines were planted on the
building, the fence covered with
sumachs and shrubbery In the front
yard morning glorfes and 'flowerins
shrubs made a very attractive corner
The other corner, being appropriated
by the public as a short cut to the next
street. has been reclaimed by seeding
the ground and by protecting the grass
with an iron pipe fence that win be
| covered with vines.
Another school in the suburbs had
been built upon an old city dumping
ground Nothing could be more dis
couraging than it's conditions. The
principal has the instincts of the
| pioneer and the qualities Of a general.
| Under her leadership the children
| tackled the soil with such weapons as
| they could muster, begged manure
| from the surrounding stables, and
every child was instructed to bring
| sods in season and out of season
! whenever and wherever they could
| set them legitimately. The entire yard
was covered in this way: trees and
| shrubs were donated and planted: OF
! the north side was a beautiful bed Of
ferns brought from the woods by this
eager children. The whole charactei
az the place was changed. When Z
stranger visited the school one Sunday
afternoon in summer, children ap
peared spontaneously, every ADJOINING
fencepost became a watch tower, ane
the argus eyes of q community werl
on the alert to see that no depreciation
was committed. This school took tn
first prize. ~.
In the meantime the seeds given t
the children in the spring had bee
cared for in their home yards Wit
great industry. Vegetables also wer
grown, for which prizes were offered
The flower show in August was.a grea
success. Besides the flowers grown b
the children, there was a fine display @
wild flowers and of named branches {
the different trees grown in this local
4 ity. Twenty-one prizes We're given, an
. it was q foregone conclusion that tn
work would go on the next season.
: At the close of the year We too
stock. The effort in the four school
/ by ne means represented the NOW
, ment-it had extended all along tn