News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1905-08-16
FACTORY IMPROVING
REMARKABLE CHANGE WROUGHT BY
LANDSCAPE GARDENING.

Several years ago we'll known OHIO
manufacturer, on his trips to and from
Dayton, o., was greatly impressed
with the barnlike appearance and des-
slate air of the little homes lining the
railroad as it approached Dayton and
other towns, writes William Ii. Tai
man in the Review of Reviews. He
said to himself that the fences and
back porches would be improved by a
few creeping vines and flowers. From
Ehe back yard view of these homes his
thoughts turned to the barrenness of
his own factory, and he decided to try
the effect of some flowers and vines.
The first thing he did was to plant a
Big bed of flowers in the center of the
factory lawn. InStinctively he felt that
something was wrong. He knew that
his ideas were right. but he lacked the
knowledge Of how to carry them out,
and he finally sent for John C. Ohm
stead, the famous landscape gardener.
The first suggestion was the removal
of the set piece in the center of the
lawn. Then he corrected the planting
of one bed of flowers with eight or
nine colOrs. He pointed out how, by
making little bays and inlets of shrubs
and flowers along the sides of the
lawn, a pleasing effect might be Sc
cured. Next he suggested that the two
stable sheds opposite the factory
should be connected with an arch, the
roof painted vermilion, the sides olive
and rapid growing vines planted at
each end, thus forming a harmony Of
color that would be restful to the eye,
Mr.. Olmstead's suggestions fell on
fertile soil. Mr. Patterson not only dec
Grated his factory grounds and build
fngs, but covered the telegraph poles
and lamp posts with vines, so that the
streets about the factory seemed like
the approaches to park. When he
saw how beautiful all this looked for
the factory, and when he reflected
how simple were the principles Of land
scape gardening, he thought how fine
a thing it would be to bring it to the
homes of his factory people.
He began this educational work i'll
the factory Sunday school, and when
spring came he distributed 10000 pack
ages Of seeds to the children. To slim
ulate the best effort prizes were offered
for the best ornamental planting about
the home and for the most artistic ar
rangement and training Of vines on
Eouses, verandas, buildings, fences and
posts. Boys and girls under sixteen
were invited to compete for the best
Kept back yards, whether lawns or
planted in flowers and vegetables. Five
prizes of So each were offered for the
most artistic window box effects. The
best planted and cultivated vegetable
gardens were to be awarded by five
prizes of $40 each. To take charge of
this work he engaged the services Of
a landscape gardener, who could be
consulted by any of the employees.
Previous to the time the work began
Che bare houses looked like those of
Che Noah's ark village-no adornment,
The lots separated by board fences,
with no regard to harmony Of color.
The children then planted the seeds
and eagerly watched the rapid growth
Of the morning glories and the moon
howers Gradually the stiff lines of
che fences disappeared under the lux
1riant growth Of the vines. Then the
mothers, seeing the pretty effect of the
vines, began to train them over the
XJorch and added window boxes, max
ing bowers of beauty out Of the previ-
GUS packing box style of house. When
Che autumn came and the vines disap-
peared they realized how very ugly
the fences looked without any adorn-
ment. The training Of the summer
Bore fruit and when Mr.. Patterson
advised taking them down and replac-
ing them by a wire fence, which was
1ust about one-third cheaper and bet
ter adapted to the climbing vines, they
were ready to do so. Some occupiers
of adjoining houses improved on this
plan by doing away with any kind Of
a. fence and planting instead divi-
sional line of flowers.
Some idea of the interest in the con-
Gests for the landscape garden prizes
may be shown by the fact that an
audience of 1000 people thronged the
great auditorium at the fair grounds
when the prizes were distributed.
Thus those who had striven all sum-
a1er were awarded additionally by the
public recognition of their friends.
We live in a prosaic, matter of fact
world, where most of US wish to be
paid for what we do. How did this
gay Mr. Patterson? No one can visit
hfs factory without noting the happy
End contented workers everywhere.
Each one is individualiZed. He does
not feel that he is a cog in the wheel,
But is an essential part of the vital
nechanism credited with intelligence.
In the old days the men spoke of the
factory as "Patterson's penitentiary;'
now it is called "Patterson's paradise"
The factory people have organized
ghe South Park Improvement associa-
Hon so that they may extend these ad-
Rantages throughout that section of the
Gown. Viewed from no higher plane
effsn that of commercialism, there has
6een decided increase in the value of
property.
Whatever makes the wage earners
baz1ton+od with fboir boynaS hoe va Inc