Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-20
THE NEGLECTED BACK YARD.
Now is the Time for Cleaning Out
Weeds and Trailing Vines.

Now that the fall is here with the wther-
Ing and falling leaves, the dying grass.
bushes and weeds in yards, the house
holders who are with us in the front and
the rear yard improvement and garden cul-
tivation unconventional those who are not
yet interested in 1t should get into line
should make the initial start for next sea-
sons work. said a citizen interested in
this fine local project of city adornment to
Star reporter.
IF the front and the rear yards are
thoroughly cleaned up at this season, and
the dead weeds and trailing vines are
cleared out half Of the preliminary work
Of yard cleaning for the spring will have
already been done. 1t is, however, up to
the individual householders to take the
initiative, and 1t is the rear yards which
as rule need more attention than the
front of the premises. One or two pro-
gressve property owners in a square can
by cleaning up and rearranging things in
his own rear yard set an example in this
minor but important municipal improvement
as whole, which Is surely to be emulated
by his neighbors.
In some cities the rear-yard improve
ment movement has taken definite shape,
and the before land after pictures of such
instances, which are published from time
and the garden, show complete transforma-
ton and an improvement In even a few
months which would scarcely be believed
were not the pictorial reproductions shown,
and usually at trivial expense in money
and very slight effort physically.
by reason Of the abundant space in~the
center of the squares in Washington, and
the length and width of the lots, few If
any cities surpass US as to the possibilities
of rear-yard adornment once the project Is
generally taken up, and this can be ac-
complished only through agitation in the
local press and individual efforts Of in
terested citizens. Nevertheless, as 1 have
stated, it Is, the cumulative spirit which
is the most productive of results. If one
man has a neat rear yard and lawn, the
comparison with the holdings of his neigh
bors will be marked that the latter are
impelled to action which would otherwise
be neglected.
owing to the wide parking in the front
of the dwellings in this city our front
some sections of the northwest and on
Capitol Hill. but the movement should be
a general one. Citizens associations have
made a fine start in the right direction in
offering small cash prizes to householders
for the best kept-up lawns. There was
sharp competition for these prizes, though
1t was for the honor in the neighborhood
rather than the money which was the in
ducement to Individual effort on the part
Of householders. 1t would be good idea
to have other sections follow the example
set by these associations and put the plan
Into execution next summer.
IF a similar claim to public attention
may be directed toward the rear yards as
well, it will be surprising what progress
may be made in this direction in five years.
The outlook from the rear windows in some
of our squares should prove to even the
casual observer that care and order should
be substituted for carelessness and dis
regard Of appearances and that the small
individual sums of money necessary to
make the needed change would not be
missed at the end of the year from the
family purse"