The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-06-06
CHILD GARDENERS
 GrrppnRTERS OF PARKS.

SUPPORTERS UF fAHNSs Tn the ceaseless warfare between health and disease many are ths in- duences which determine the struggle, giving victory or defeat to either side. Some of these may be estimated and reckoned-as proper shelter, clothes and food. Others defy analysis anu calculation--such as sunshine and free air, the odors from balsamic trees ana fragrant flowers. and the calm or beautiful scenery.
 Yet. this pharmacy of nature In which are no scales, and which mas no prices tagged on its tonics and ano- dynes, exceeds in value all the bottled and labeled drugs which man has ever compounded.
 what is so curative of nervous troubles as to put the patient where he can watch the blue of clear skies and the green of woods1 What 30 preventive of these disorders as to iri- sist that all shall have some change from the toiling office or shop and the dusty noisy strect7
 One way to give every dweller in towns a measure of these blessings of
 Natures preventives and restoratives squares Every public building would approach perfection more nearly if 1t were surrounded with trees and green lawn.
 When we rebelled against Old Eng land we did not declare ourselves in- tdependent of oaks and elms, woodland lanes and English greenery. or indif- ferent to all that makes rural Eng land so superlatively attractive and lends charm to her towns and cities. The awakening that has come to America on the subject of country homes, parks and tree-planted publi; squares, hedges and gardens is only a
 reassertion of cur old English in stincts, which, when united with Eng fish perseverance in pedestrianism may have the result of making us people as equable and healthy and wig
 orous as the men and women whose
 sturdiness Is not all because they are
 "beef-eaters."
 For a long time Boston Common was
 the only public park in America. Her
 citizens and loyal councilmen had ot-
 ten to protect the Common from threat
 ened sales as the site of public build-
 ings. It served as an inspiration to
 other towns in making reservations for the health and comfort of citizens,
 and in holding on to them.
 1t may be that the movement for
 parks will not reach in the South It's
 highest and most efficient speed until
 the men and women who participate in 1t are graduates of schools In which
 gardening was a part of the curricu- lum. In those European countries
 (described by Stoddard in his match less lectures) where parks are finest and most extensive, such schools have long existed. School gardens are scattered all over Europe. Dr. D. ]. Crosby, of the United States Agrlcul- tural Department. says that there are
 100000 of them, and that the West Indies and Canada are taking them up. According to the same authority, about
 fifteen of the States have adopted them as an integral part of the school sys- tenn. and seventy-five cities have done so.
 The first one was started in Boston, and began with the setting out of wild flowers and ferns brought from ad- Joining woods. with a few hardy cuI- tivated flowers. After nine years vacant lot in the rear of the school was secured. and a kitchen garden was kept up by the pupils who took the most enthusiastic interest In my let tuce," Thy cabbage" "my carrots etc, which each boy carried home to help out the family dinner. This school garden of George Putnam has taken the first prize every year since prizes have been offered by the Massa- chusetts Horticultural Society for best gardens. other schools taking second and third prizes.
 
 Washington Normal School. There lectures are given by the government horticulturist. Prof L.. c. Corbett seeds are distributed and each punIi is required to set out at home n garden under the supervision of the Normal School Instructor or under his dtrec- tion' and he makes visits of inspection and suggestion.
 All engaged in the supervision of this work, in Europe and America. in- sist that 1t Is not an additional burden to overwrought pupils, but that the employment 1t requires acts like rec reation. and Is even a stimulant to better work of purely intellectual character.
 The funds for the establishment ana maintenance of these schools is some- times a State or municipal approprin- ton, sometimes the contribution of | patrons. The work is usually all done | by the children, who. in some instances. | pay substitute to do the work in the | absence from home of the vacation | months.
 An instance mentioned in a conven- tion of the American Park Association | which illustrates the lesseninE of in- terest with the abatement of individual enort was that of principal in a Ro- l chester school. who. thinking that chil- l dren were 'in the way" had his pa- | tions, with the result that this teacher | had to put up a wire fence to protect l grass and flowers from being trampIed | on, while in other gardens where chIt- | dren did all the work there was no sign | of barrier, yet everything was beauti- | fully kept, the children respecting and | preserving their own labor.
 Flower gardens and kitchen gardens are an important part of Social Settle ment work.
 The summer of travel is before many Montgomerians. Many, too, may travel only with their minds. There are indt- cations that the methods which have so beautified other towns and improved their citizenship are to be studied, and that the institution is deep and earn est to devise some plan whereby the rising generation may be taught the beauty and utility of gardens and parks.
 It was eighty years ago that a few fin Germany established school gardens and became pioneers of a movement which fifty years later was adopted by European Governments. What an inspiration to others is their success! If few Germans could plant deas that have given gardens to schools in the Old World and are bring Ing them to the New World, is 1t not worth while for few women in Mont 5omery to get together in the hope that | 1ur school grounds near the Capitol md all over the city may some day be shaded with trees, be turfed and cov- cred with bloom and beauty?
 The vac-at lots in the city now filled with trash. those at West End where