Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-25
School Gardens.

The school children of today are the
householders of Washington of few years
hence, and In the degree that they now
acquire a sense of the citys estheuc re-
quirements they will in the future con-
slider ways and means of adding to its at
Effectiveness by conserving it's natural and
artificial opportunities for Improvement.
A cultivation of the love of flowers, there
fore is one of the most important phases
of the training of the younger members OF
the community in which the schools are
engaged, and it is gratifying to note that
serious and systematic effort has been be-
gun to develop the taste and pride of the
youngsters in this direction. An article
which appears In another part of The Star
today tells with text and Illustrations of
this new work now under way and affords
grounds for belief that in a few years the
school houses of Washington will be among
the most beautiful of the city's points of
attraction.
The work in progress in the grounds of the
Department of Agriculture is of threefold
Importance. 1t not only fosters a love for
the beautiful in the children and thus
widens the sphere of their enjoyment but
1t starts them on the road to contributing
to the city beautiful as junior citizens and
furthermore 1t furnishes the starting point
for what may develop into most import
ant line of industrial training. The tech
biological work now being done by the pub
lie schools of this city all grew out of
few saws and hammers and work bench
in the basement of the High School about
twenty years ago. The enthusiasm Of one
teacher carried on the work until 1T was
recognized as of value as a part of the
curriculum of the schools and in few sea-
sons the manual training department was
formally established. The two fine institu-
tons now handsomely housed are types of
what may be accomplished from small be-
ginnings. 1t may prove to be the same
with this work in gardening. which has al
ready developed from feature of the
Normal School course for the benefit of
the students there preparing for work as
teachers.
1t is evident that as long as the school
children care nothing for grass and shrubs
and flowers in their relation to the appear
ance of their school houses they will have
no computations about despoiling the turf
or the flower beds which may be estab-
lished in front of the buildings. But with
dozen or so of the boys and girls in each
building earnestly and personally interested
III tHtSe through HdNiHS paTIlcl-
pated in their creation, barrier is erected
between them and the ruthless rompers and
trespassers. One fairly sure result is that
the school yards, under such system. will
soon take on a beauty which has never be-
fore been theirs and competition between
schools will be engendered to produce the
most beautiful effects in landscape garden
ing. Such rivalry would be wholesome
not only in the esthetic results, but in the
moral influence of persistent cultivation
of the beautiful.
The effect of such a course of instruc-
ton will not end with the school, but
will be felt at the homes of the young
gardeners 1t is safe to expect that a sea-
son or two of school training in garden
work will work wonders in the reclamatio
of. back yards as we'll as front parkings in
all quarters of the city. The opportunities
here at the disposal of citizens for home
garden making are to be equaled in very
few other cities, probably in none other of
the size of the capital 1t has for many
years been a source of regret to the advo-
Gates of beautiful Washington that these
chances have not been more fully devel-
oped. Perhaps now q thorough appreciation
of advantages will come through these
modest efforts in the grounds of the De-
partment of Agriculture. which deserve the
fullest possible support of the school off,
Gals. and, If necessary, liberal aid from
the appropriations made by Congress.