New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1915-09-18

| y
fectiye organization comprising
sixty special teachers, it can mol
be given full credit for the large
proportion of home gardens IL
1918, as a tremendous stimulus
was given to the work through the
county identifying campaign that
was conducted last fall III pre-
pairing for California expositlons
year. The greatest incentive to
activity on the part of the little
folk was list of cash prizes Of
fercd by general committee III
charge of the work. These ranged
from five to thirty-five dollars for
the little individual gardeners to
several hundred dollars for the
school which produced the best
results in Identification through
cultivating the soil. The total
| reaches more than seventeen thou
sand dollars.
The chief object of the general
committee was to get the chill
dren to plant flowers about the
school grounds and in their homes
in furtherance of the general
Identification plans. "A more
practical view of such effort was
taken by the teachers with the re-
suit that the home gardens in
Guided vegetables that might be
used for family consumption.
The work was extended until it's
economic Importance became APP
parent. Instances are recorded
where school children have added
to the family income by selling
vegetables from gardens they
have developed themselves. There
is record of girl Of nine who has
been of material help in support
ing the family through sales from
her garden, with which she also
hopes to capture a cash prize.
The business instinct has been
developed in boys to the extent
that they have co-operated in :
partnerships or groups, thereby
doing more effective work than
possible by working individually. !
Boys obtained permission to use i
vacant city property and city lots
TO make gardens on large scale /
TIM back or front yards permitted.
owners OF vacant property read
lily consented to have the weeds
removed and the ground cultivat-
ed, while the city was glad to have
any improvement made on it's va
can't land, so that the arrangement
proved profitable for all parties
concerned. |
a Large amount of seed was dis
'rlouted free to the pupils who
expressed intention of entering
The competition for home gardens.
Enough packets were distributed
% plant an area of three million
square feet, or approximately five
square feet for every man, woman
and child in the city.
Through the cooperation of
seed houses and nurserymen with
he general committee a compre-
1ensive pamphlet was issued IN
Ter the title "Home Garden Man.
1al." Copies were given to all
Who applied for them. whether
children or adults. The dealers
also agreed to furnish at large
reduction seeds for home plant
no to public school pupils. The
,hild buying Under these condi-
ions was furnished with an ident-
fication card by her teacher.
The first gardens were planted
asst fall. Climatic conditions are
such in southern California that
there is no "closed season" for
growing things. the winter
comprising what is COM
monty known as the rainy sea-
son." The annual normal pre-
is fifteen inches dis
tributed over six to seven months,
approximately equal to the same
period of time in the Mississippi |
valley states.
A "fall planting day" was pro-
claimed by the mayor for Friday,