New-York tribune., 1902-07-18
TALK ON NATURE STUDY.
CHILDREN OF DE WITT CLINTON PARK
LISTEN TO PRACTICAL ADDRESS
BY MR.. POWELL.

Superintendent George T. Powell of the Briar-
Cliff Agricultural School never addressed q more
attentive and appreciative audience than that
which listened to him yesterday morning at De
Witt Clinton Park. The young farmers Of that
locality were immensely impressed by the fact
that a real authority farming had come to
speak to them. They gathered in compact mass
around him under the tent, and around the outer
edge was a fringe of mothers and Of men who had
come hear the lecture, attracted by the subject
and the speaker.
The boys were greatly impressed when Mr.. Pow
ell told them that person who understood the
strawberry plant, how cultivate it and give it
proper food and water, could make $1,000 from one
acre a plot about as large as from the tent to
the next building. They all looked around at the
building. measured the distance visually. and then
their eyes grew round they took in the signih-
canoe OF the statement. Then Mr.. Powell showed
them large, colored charts of strawberry plants.
depicting the leaves. blossoms and berries above
ground and the roots below. He explained how the
roots took in the food and moisture necessary for
growth, and how the plant was propagated by
runners.
Coming to the subject OF the enemies Of the
plant he the girls and boys if they had heard
June bugs in school. They replied that they had
heard Of June bugs, though not in school, an an
swer which seemed 10 amuse Mr.. Powell. Then he
told them how June bugs laid their eggs at the
roots Of grass, and the eggs Matched into slugs
which ate the roots. Another picture showed the
white slug snugIy ensconced among the roots of a
field covered with grass previously The lesson was
not 10 follow grass with strawberries
Then the speaker held up two apples and in
ouired what he had paid for them. One bright
eyed little chap was thoroughly informed on the
subject One of the apples had cost one cent, he
said and the other had cost two cents. Mr.. Powell
commended him for his good judgment of appear
ances and exact knowledge of the market, and
then proceeded to snow the audience how one apple
had been made worth two cents and the other only
one He showed them on the chart how VII
famous little insect gets into the bud, and If left
spple behind il while if the bud We're sprayed with
paris green water the moth Woula pc killed anu .i
We'll able TO see that could double the in
come from his apple orchard by proper spraying.
pIe practical talk. They got a correct idea Of
why the trees in the park must be sprayed ana OF OF
well as a person, if it is to live Mr.; Powell said
that he hoped that the day was not Tar t GUSTAV ai
country for two or three cent fares; and, oetter
still that they would some time have and OF thelr
own there on which they could make a liVlng
50 90 hFcn NJ he theme thai at the end Of the lecture
fhev few to their picks and shoves. and fell to
tbe rain Even wnen the iownpour came in tor
vents they stuck to their post leveling the ground
with as much feVeIish energy as II they eXpected
- see that thousand dollar strawberry bed bios
No signal proof Of their intereS fbt IN wbe1 59
tb 3,Ienfle police force was TO be organized. and
Mrs Henry Parsons asked all the boys TO choose
whether they would be farmers or pocelneii tnlL i
ry-fVe went over to the farmers side and only
fifteen the policemen's. A.
They have worked like Trojans in Gearing me me
ground of carloads Of stones, and IeveInng the
mould which the Park Department mas Sent d 70 % G e
worried into the soil of the park, ana IL Is
r11rnored that when the seed is once In the srounu
thew purpose forming a line brigade 10 the nearesI
finuaiiy to the vegetable gardens. The PARK PARK De
partent had the new floor ia6 6oa6 ana ' in honor of
tractively decorated with green poOs4i@ " ~
the occasion yesterday.