Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1904-08-23

nrms end societies are improving the
surroundings Of factories. special
blocks in tenement districts and soc-
tons OF towns and cities. The CITY of
Cleveland. o.. however, has a home
gardening association which is at
tempting t. beautify an entire CITY ana
Is meanwhile actually supporting IT,
self. writes ]. NJ. Bowles in the Nav
Worlds Werk.
Inc object OF the association is prt.
marily ito plant flowers, vines and
shrubs in unsightly places" There "a
an article In the bylaws which calls
Tor the clearing of streets and alleys
OF rubbish. the cleaning up of back
yards by removing garbage. ash heaps.
old cans, etc." and the general i'm.
provement OF sanitary conditions. But
the association secures its largest
measure OF success by encouraging tho
planting of flowers. A flower garden
about squalid home is usually sue
ceeded by honest attempts at cleanli-
ness and order both indoors and out.
The association comes into direct
contact with $1,000 children. 1t fur
nishes seeds which are planted in
$4,000 homes. Every child in the pub
lie schools Of Cleveland is now en-
abled to have garden in the summer.
and In the winter months every room
in the schools is frightened by the
thousands Of Towering bulbs. To
many Of the children these flowers are
rare and wonderful.
In 19OO-the first year Of the associa-
s1nIyn -
sold at cent each. The receipts COW
cred all expenses. In 1903 the sale Of
more than $4,000 packages. at a cent
apiece. resulted in profit enough to
pay for twenty-four stereopticon lec-
lures and to provide prizes for flower
shows I'm the schools. Thousands Of
yards have been cles ned up and fiow-
ers and vines planted. and to some OF
the worst parts of the city beauty and
health have come hand In hand.
To stimulate friendly competitions.
flower shows are held inthe schools. in
which children are the only exhibitors.
Every pupil attends the private
views" and the school giving the best
show receives prize from the asso-
citation. The money is lsed in improv-
ing the grounds Of that school. Circu-
lars signed by the association now ask
teachers to take up various nature
studies with their pupils. to instruct
them in planting ss'eds and cultivating
flowers. The time of starting happen
ed to be suspicious for the introduce
ton of the work. because the teachers
brought into the language lessons the
study of trees and plants The pupils
have shown ever since a much greater
interest in the lessons. The annual
fee Of 10 cents gives child member
ship and ten packages Of seeds. The
school work is done in a few minutes
before and after school hours.
The many small gardens springing
up all over the city are a proof Of the
success of the movement. The Cleve-
land Leader a year or two ago offered
prizes for the best gardens and win.
dow boxes grown that summer. The
competition was open to all amateurs,
whether the seeds were purchased
from the Home Gardening association
or not. but committee from the so
ciety was appointed to award the
prizes In what proved to be very sue.
cessful contest. More than 200 persons
entered the lists, and the standard of
the gardening was high.
The association constantly urges the
planting Of schoM grounds with shrubs
and flowers. This has been done at
the Rockwell street school. 1t was
necessary to secure a playground equal
in size to the space to be planted. and
some lots Immediately adjoining the
school were obtained for nominal
rental Of $40 year. contributed by
citizens. A prominent landscape gar
dener gave his time and experience in
preparing the grounds and in superin-
tending the work Of planting. with a
result so satisfactory that the school
board has now agreed to pay the rental
OF the playground and to keep the gar
den in order. while friends OF the work
have contributed 1000 bulbs to be set
out every autumn
In the spring of 1902. when II was de-
cided to make downtown block
model for others in the neighbOrhood.
the cooperation Of twenty one out OF
the twenty three owners of houses In
it was secured. Window boxes. seeds
and plants were given to every one
who would agree to care for them.
Prizes were offered. but decision was
difficult because so many OF the gar
ilens were equally attractive.
Towns and cities all over the United
States are seeking information about
Cleveland methods. and thousands or
packages Of seeds have been sold to
Improvement associations In Brooklyn,
Princeton. N. j.: Joliet. ILL.,: Eaton. o..
and elsewhere.
rss.. - r.AnApen