Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-02
GARDENS A BENEFIT
Better Citizens Through Grow
ing Flowers at Home.
RESULTSAT NORTHAMPTON
H. D. Hemenway, in Lecture at Pub
lie Library, Tells of
Achievements.

Planting Home Gardens" was the sub
ject of a lecture delivered last night by H. D.
Hemenway, secretary of the Peoples In
stitute of Northampton, Mass, under the
auspices of the National Society of the
Fine Arts. at the Public Library. 1t was.
in fact. the epic of the flowers. in which
Mr. Hemenway showed how the lives OF
thousands of persons, some of them
wretchedly poor had been frightened and
made happier by the planting of shrubs
and blossoms about their homes. and how
whole neighborhoods which had been trOu
blesome to the police and antagonistic to
law and order had been made peaceaJle
by the introduction of flowers about the
homes he cultivation of these flowers
gave idle hands an occupation. and the
brightness of the blossoms brought light
into dark places.
Mr. Hemenway explained that these re-
suits had been accomplished in North
ampton through the efforts of the Eco
pies Institute. Prizes were offered for
the best home gardens, and interest was
aroused among the children as we'll as the
grown-ups.
1--WE have been at work planting home
gardens in Northampton for only ten
years. but today there is not home that
has not it's garden, no matter how small
the yard. The streets have heen decorat-
ed. Our citizens are better citizens. Their
property has gained in value, because 1t
has become more attractive to the eye.
We have a population of 10000 in North
ampton, but the city covers forty-two
square miles.
Andrew Carnegie Gave Prizes.
Mr. Hemenway was introduced to the
audience last night by George F. Bower
man, librarian of the Public Library.
Mr.. Bowerman spoke briefly of the work
of the home gardens In Northampton.
who had been encouraged and stimulated
in their work through competition, the
prizes for which had been offered by
Andrew Carnegie.
Mr.. Hemenway illustrated his lecture
with many stereopticon views of home
gardens in Northampton. He said:
1.-The home is the center of the scheme
Of home gardening. We wish to bring
the home out to the best advantage: We
are judged by the appearance of our
homes, to large extent"
Pictures were thrown on the screen
showing what had been accomplished by
Michael Burke. workman living in
Northampton. The home was surround
ago. Mr.. Hemenway said, the grounds
around the home had been little better
than a sand bank. He explained how
Burke had been assisted in his garden
ing plans now ne ndd perSeVereO, Work
ing early in the morning before going
to his work in the mill and in the even
ing after he had returned to his home.
a plan should be drawn by the owner
Of a home before he starts in to improve
the grounds about it with flowers, said
Mr. Hemenway This plan should show
exactly where it was proposed to set out
shrubs and flowers. Little circles drawn
on the plan or map should indicate these
places for flowers. After the plan has
been completed the gardener can select
the plants which he desires to set out
and place their names or numbers in the
circles on the map.
Many of the wild shrubs are splendid
for decorating purposes in the home gar
dens.'' said Mr. Hemenway. I'VE advise
to keep open centers in the grounds about
home. and to plant the flowers and
shrubs in masses in corners or along
lines on the outskirts of the grounds. 1t
is a very simple matter to draw a plan.
Any home owner can do it. All he needs
is a string yardstick and paper and
pencil. Unless plans are made for i'm
proving the home grounds very bad re-
suits may follow. For shrubs and flow
ers are sometimes planted where they
do not show to advantage, or where they
hide the home itself and detract from
il -