Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-04-12
VERNAL FANCY IN READING
Public Mind Turns Lightly to Thoughts Of
Out. oor work,
BOOKS THAT ARE READ IN THE SPRING
John Burroughs and Similar Authors
Called for Most at Public
Library, which Has Many
spring Books.
BOOKS THAT ARE READ IN THE SPRING

In the spring the peoples fancy lightly
turns to thoughts OF gardening. This is
fact indicated by the large number Of books
upon vernRl subjects taken from the city
library at the present season. From child
hood just learning to lisp its first lesson up
to quiet old age lingering in the sunshine
there is one thought pleasing alike to all
minds. 1t is the thought of spring.
THE circulation of books on gardening is
really remarkable" said Miss Tobit, the
librarian 1.-THE circulation is not only
among those who are going to plant gar
dens, but among such as are shut In from
any practical work in this line. know Of
several people who board and they are
among the most assiduous readers OF books
on How TO Make Vegetable Garden and
works Of kindred nature. Some Of the
busiest business men and women in Omaha
are readers Of works on travel, though
they almost never take vacation"
Fixed on Eastern Books.
But the people who draw the books on
gardening and nature STUDY at this season
of the year are mostly those who are laying
out their yards and planning for a beautiful
adornment OF flowers and vines for the
summer The library has a very complete
collection OF books on this subject, includ-
ing the latest works on artistic and land
scape gardening. All these are in the hey
day Of their popularity and some books
such as those OF John Burroughs and Henry
Thoreau are nearly always out, though
there are a number OF copies in the library
How to Know wild Flowers" Familiar
Trees and Their Leaves" and a hundred
other books on trees and wild flowers are
in great demand at present, as are also
works on birds.
! In the children's room the coming Of
spring is being heralded in a very pratical
! manner. A dozen vessels filled with water
stand on a table. In each is a twig prop
erly labeled with it's name All are twigs
taken from Omaha trees. Some have not
yet awakened at the call of warm weather;
others show buds and others small leaves,
| while one, a willow, with most commend
able ambition has sprouted roots. The chill
| dren show great interest In this exhibit.
| On bulletin board are pinned colored
pictures Of birds with a full description of
each. Watch for these" says a sign.
! When a species of bird has arrived from
its winter home the picture is removed and
replaced by a picture of one which will
arrive later.
Flowers for the School.
| To each grade in the city schools is as
signed a flower a vegetable, bird and a
| tree which are studied in the spring The
city library supplies most OF the books re-
quired in this nature work. More than 1900
volumes are sent into the outlying districts
for the use Of pupils. Schools more CEN
trally located draw books as they need
! them.
Liberal courtesies will be extended by the
library to patrons leaving the city on vaca-
lions this summer. They will be allowed
to take several volumes with them to keep
until they return, regardless of the two
week limit. This privilege, OF course. will
not include the books most popular and
most in demand.