Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-09
RICHMOND PLAN BEATS
BACK YARD GARDENING
mont Suggested by Public
School Principal.
W1NFREY's ROY FARMERS
Operations On in Earnest in the Sub
urbs-Forty Public School Boys
Have Ten Acres Under Cultivation.
Much Encouragement by Public.

Much Encouragement by Public.
In an article in the Industrial Sec
ton last Sunday attention was called
to the proposition OF DR.. p. p. CLAYTON.
United States Commissioner OF Edu-
cation. to put the American schoolboy
to work in the backyard gardens in
the cities and towns of the country. this
comment was made
There is no evidence that either the
sckool-teac cheers or the parents Of
schoolboys Of Richmond or other Nir-
Sinia cities and towns have as yet
taken any concerted action along the
lines of Or. ClaNton's theory The
country boys in Virginia have all along
had the idea drummed into their heads,
not only In the back yard gardens, hut
all over the plantation.
On Monday last a gentleman called
bright and early 10 say that there had
been inauGurated in Richmond This
spring a movement that is worth two
of the one Or. CLAYTON seeks 10 mako
popular throughout the country. This
movement mas wider scope than the
5000 doctors, and is child OF the
'ba OK to the farm slogan. il Is moth
Ing more or less than an earnest effort
to make n farmer OF the city schoolboy
by seeting him in love with the bust
ness OF Cult:vatinc the soil by letting
him find out for himself the plea sure
and the profit in It; ny letting him learn
through his own work how to make
two blades OF grass grow where one
grew before. and by giving him con-
idence IN himself and making him feel
his oats and thereby acquire self
reliant and independent spirit
The movement so far has resulted
in putting about forty boys Of the
city schools 70 gardening and farm
ing In earnest, not in the contracted
back yards on the streets and allies
within the city but in broad fields
away out n the Ear suburbs. where
they are he.nc laugh, to grow markes-
able things. doing Il all after school
hours and IN no way interfering with
their studies. On the contrary, their
work on, in the open air TWO or more
day mornings puts them in better con-
dition for the duties OF the school
room than /. they spent the same hours
in the streets OF the crowded city or
at their homes i'll the city.
HISTORY OF THE
FARMER-MAkING INSTITUTION
The history of the movement. so far
and easily given The plan for Civ
ing the schoolboys a chance to 10
gardening and farming was rieinally
suggested TO the City School Board ny
G. II. Winfrey. assistant principal Of
the Madison school, and in advoca ting
the plan before the board Nj. Win
frey became very enthusiastic, claim
Ing that ne could prove it 10 he far
Better plan than that OF the city back
lot gardening for hoys. now being
worked in several cities. for his idea
was, and is, to make of large
vacant lots in the suburbs for the
schoolhoy gardening and farming,
rather than the vacant city lots. there
by giving the boys large enough area
TO cultivate probably, and TO give IL
more the appearance of real farming.
Mr.. Winfrey, who is something OF a
farmer and very much OF a gardener.
offered TO boss the jon, and the School
Board. having approved his plans. in
structed him 10 set busy. and he did
get busy Immediately.
Jonathan Bryan gave the boys the
use, for the summer, of two blocks OF
vacant lots In the Laburnam tract
about ten acres OF ground-which the
school board AT once had plowcl and
narrowed and about forty boys from
the "A 10 tho 7-B grades OF the city
schools eagerly seized the opportunity,
and they are now busy with their
quarter-acre gardens, under Mr.. Win
frey's direction. Each boy has fur
nished his own seeds and his own
tools-that is. "a hoe and a rake. Each
hoy has planted just what h. wished
10 plant, and each one viii have the
entire proceeds from hrs own garden
TO sell or to turn over TO his rarcn,s 70
that each hoy should net at least ssh
for his trouble and labor II Tie sea sons
are favorable
SO far as has''Aaen asccrialned. this
is an entirely nc~ idea. and II CON
tinued on an increased scale shouts
materially bring down the nigh COS:
of living, besides giving the boys
healthy. profitable occupation during
the summer and some of the practical
education in agriculture that Is being
more and more demanded throughout
the whole country to-day
The agent OF the United States De-
.partnent OF Education. Miss Ethel
Gowan. has inspected the work. and
declares it the best project She has
seen put forth anywhere
Rain is badly needed just now. hu.
the gardens are already giving fair
showing and rows OF green things are
appearing. All The boys arc rot out
every day but any afternoon or Satn--
day morning that is not too ", one
may find from TWENTY-FIVE IN forty hovs
busily at work on their rows
s ENCOURAGEMENT AND HELP
FROM sINNY SOURCES
Digs & Raadlas and T " Wood
& Son have furnished the seeds for tho
boys AZ much rc~uccd rate. and a
good many merchants have alrcndy
offered prizes FOR the best crore The
Administrative Board has promised al,
the street sweepinEs needed for fer,i-
lizing. and everyone approached has
responded nth an enthusiasm mosr
gratifying 10 those especially inter
ested Even motorists going 10 and
from Gintcr Park, passing Tho bows on
the road often take them ou, and
bring them back t. town The nuh
lie at large that has been hrourh,
into any contact with tho scheme ma c
shown its great interest in THO -oove