The Washington times., 1917-03-22
SAYS HOME GARDEN
ISDOUBLEBLESSING
Commissioner of Education
Claxton Points to TWo-FoId
Benefits From It.

To the Editor of THE TIMES:
AHigh cost of living" is on the lips
of all people in the United States. 1t
is discussed in every newspaper and
magazine. To millions II is q very
real thing. To hundreds of thousands
with large families to support and
educate it has come to be a fearful
thing: to many, torture and death.
For the high cost of living there
are many causes. Two of these are
the unusual lack of food and the fact
that most of the food is consumed
far from the place of production.
which makes the consumer pay the
cost of storage and transportation
and the profits of the middlemen,
many of whom, in times like these,
take advantage of the wants of the
people to make exorbitant profits.
A Partial Remedy.
Is there a remedy?, Partially, at
least, but not wholly in Investigations
or legislation. This remedy is so sim
pie and close at hand that 1t is over
looked. In the nations schools, there
are approximately 100000 boys and
girls between the ages Of nine and
sixteen. Most of them are idle more
than half of the year. They are in
school less than 1000 hours in the
year, and, allowing ten hours day
for sleep, are out Of school more than
1000 waking hours, more than an
average OF nine hours a day, not
counting Sundays
National and State laws make 1t i'm
possible for most of them to do any
profitable work in mill, mine, or shop,
and many of them are forming habits
OF idleness and falling into vice. Even
during the vacation months only
about 10 per cent have any profitable
employment: only about per cent OF
them go away from their homes ex-
cept for a few days. Still, they must
live and be fed and clothed
j, Access for 1000 900. .
For 1000, 900 of these there is ac-
cess to back yards, side yards, front
yards, and vacant lots. which might
be cultivated as small gardens for the
growth of vegetables and small fruits.
Many live where space could be easily
had for chickens, ducks, or pigeons.
And there are not less than 6,000, 900
older boys and girls and adult men
and women for whom an hour or two
of work each day in a garden would
be the best form OF recreation and
rest and who might easily find the
time for 1t.
With some intelligent direction,
these school children and older boys
and girls and men and women might
easily produce an average of S75 each
in vegetables and fruits for their own
tables or for sale in their immediate
neighborhood.
. Would Add $3.50. 900 900.
This would add $3.50. .OOO, 900 to the
best form OF food supply of tie coun-
try without cost OF transportation or
storage and without profits to middle
men.
The estimate is very conservative.
as has been shown by many expert
ments.
In addition to the economic profits.
there would be for the children
health and strength, removal from
temptation and education Of the best
type, and for older persons, rest and
recreation in the open air.
This might all be attained at COM
paratively little cost by putting into
the public schools for every hundred
children between the ages of nine
and sixteen one teacher skilled in
gardening. One such teacher could
easily direct the work of 100 children
and of the $50 older children belong
ing to the families of these children
or living in their community. Thus.
40, 900 teachers OF this kind would Dc
sufficient for the entire country
These teachers might easily be had
for an average additional salary of
$500, or a total of $20,000,00
Cost Would Decrease.
There would be some cost for seeds
and some for fertilizers and tools.
but after the first year the cost OF
these last two items would be COM
paratively little. The proceeds would
represent profits to a greater extent
than in any other kind of production.
The miracle of 1t Is in bringing
together idle land on the one hand
and idle children and tired people on
the other. Alone, neither Is produc-
tive, but all would be benefited by
the combination even IL the vege-
tables and fruits produced had no
value. p. p. CLAYTON;
United States Commissioner
OF Education.
Washington, March 10.