The Savannah morning news., 1903-08-30

ing the practical application of the
rules of Horticulture to the study Of bot
any in the schools.
Though the idea is new in this coun-
try, it is having a rapid growth. The
example which Germany and other for
eign lands long set is being followed.
France demands horticultural knowl-
edge of her teachers, and Russia has
arbors in her school yards for botani-
cal study.
Arbor Day was the first development
of this movement. For some time an
effort has been made to make IT day
of peculiar significance to children. In
most states they are taught to plant
trees with appropriate exercises. In
some places the tree is wreathed and
the children sing as they stand around
it. In all cases they are taught to Sc
lect trees suitable to the climate, and
are told interesting stories regarding
the desirabf1ity of the selected species
and the care necessary for their pre-
servation.
The Children's Flower Garden So
ciety is another practical result of the
idea. Massachusetts, New York, Mich
igan, Illinois, and Minnesota are fos-
tering this society with gratifying sue
cess. Flower Garden leagues are
springing up all over the country in
fact Their organizers have double
object in view, for through the love
of flowers they see a means of getting
children interested in municipal work.
Beside furnished seeds for a mixed
garden, the boys and girls in some
places are asked to write to the i'm
provement league telling the kinds of
flowers they desire. Asters, pansies.
mignonette and pinks seem favorites,
and after the children get the seeds
49, e - l. Il,
school making little paper boxes ac-
cording to kindergarten methods, in
which to keep them until planting
time comes.
Great preparations are made in the
school grounds when that time ar
rives. Usually, the boys make beds, If
necessary. dig the post holes, and
plant the posts. The girls plant the
seed and the children together weed
the garden and tend the plants, water
ing them and training them until
fall, when the coveted prize is given
for the best school yard. The prize is
frequently a picture for the school
room wall, and when it is presented
with a speech made by some distin-
guished citizen the enthusiasm of the
children knows no bounds.
The school work is only one feature
of the flower garden fad. Noticing
thusiastic over the school grounds are
those living in the slums with little
garden ground around their poor
dwellings,, the Improvement League Of
fers seeds and prizes for home gar
dens. AS a result, every little spot of
ground is utilized. Often a pretty
garden springs up around some tumb-
led down tenement, old barns are
transformed by vines, and the boys.
who are frequently hookblacks and
newsboys, carry water long distances
to irrigate their flowers.
Many of those gardens would do
honor to a rich mans residence, and
when the prize garden is photograph
ed the whole nelghborhood enjoys the
distinction. This year many places are
Offering prizes for various sections of
their towns, as they hope in this way
the work may become more universal
and different parts of the town be
beautified.
Stockbridge, Mass, was the pioneer
in this movement The parent society
has a clause in it's constitution which
says that any child may become a
member by paying % cents or its
equivalent in work. Chilren are en-
Outraged to do the labor and in this
way become interested in planting or
protecting a tree or trimming shrub
berry.
At Honesdale, Pa, the children are
so interested in growing flowers that
the work has taken other forms, and
in order to keep the streets clean they
pick up the stray pieces of papere and
deposit them in receptacles PLACID for
the purpose at the street corners.
One encouraging thing about chill
dren's flower work is the desire of
older people to help when they hear
of results. In several places, among
them Montclair and other New Jersey
towns, the florists donated thousands
Of salvias and cannas to the children
of the village, with circulars telling
exactly how to care for them. Large
seed firms often donate quantities Of
seeds and in some cases offer gener-
Gus prizes.
Another phase of the movement is
undertaken by real estate dealers
who offer prizes to the children of
their tenants, thus making lots more
desirable in the section of the city
which they handle.
Missouri has become so interested
in this movement that special tables
are provided at the county fairs for
children's flower exhibits, and two
towns, Carthage and Bethany. talk
of having botanical gardens to supple
ment the children's work.
The flower and vegetable garden at
Dayton, o., which one enterprising
firm has maintained for years for the
benefit of the children of its employees,
has attracted attention from sociolo-
gists AS a result a Pittsburg firm is
following in the same footsteps.
The children receive every encour-
agement in their efforts. One disin-
tersted citizens in a town where the
boys and girls were struggling to
beautify barren school grounds offered
IS each to the boy and the girl under
Is years of age in the four quarters
of the town who could show the best
flower garden planted and tended by
them. All contestants were obliged to
file an application of their desire ear
ly in June, when the premises were
Examined. In SeOtember the lots
were visited and the judges decided
which children were winners. the soil,
surroundings, and care being taken in
to consideration.
Now new plans are being made in
order to keep up the work during the
winter months. In many cities the
flowers and plants which have beau
tilted the parks and public squares
will be distributed to the children at
the close of the summer. Lists will be
made of the names of the children and
the plants committed to their care. In
some cases the plants will be kept in
the public schools but more often they
will be Jared for in the poorest of
homes. In the spring flower shows
will be held and prizes offered for the
most hourishing plants.
SI9.7O baltimore and Return.
Southern Railway offers the above