Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-15
no AWARD many PRIZES
FOR BEST CITY GARDENS
School Board Approves Plan, and Au,
thorities Announce Terms
of Competition.
EXPECT CHAMBER TO HE'LL
business and Civic Organizations De-
pended On for Financial Support
I'm Campaign to Encourage Chill
drcn to Utilize Idle Ground.

Prizes for backyard gardens and for
vegetables grown in such gardens by
public-school children will be award
ed this summer under the supervision
4 OF the authorities of the Richmond city
schools. Having been authorized Tues
day night ut the meeting of the COM
mittee on teachers and schools of the
City School Board TO prepare plan
3 for supervised gardening on theparc
of the children of Richmond. Super
5eintendcnt Chandler and his assistants
4 drew up a tentative scheme yesterday.
There are FIVE competitions in the
plan. as follows:
2. Best garden or. plot of not less than
1o0 or more than 200 square feet.-lt
is suggested that tho basis OF tho gar
den be potatoes or tomatoes. and That
small vegetables such as onions. bcets,
snap beans and lettuce hc planted be-
tween the rows. The prizes will be
awarded on the showing made the first
week in June.
Best backyard garden. first prize to
be awarded for a garden OF more thaa
200 square feet, but the second TO take
no consideration of siZc.-The nam
considerations will be the utilization
of all the available space and the great
est variety Of vegetables.
REST RIPE TOMATOES
WILL. WIN PRENIIM
First half-dozen ripe tomatoes. in
spected on tho vines in single gar
dcn..-If different contestants have the
required number ripe on the same ua!
the size and quality is 10 be consul
cred. The school authorities sucEcs,
that this competition bc held outside
OF their supervision. since tn" prize
cannot be awarded until after the va
cation has begun.
Best peck OF white potatoes, dug inc
second week of Jnly-This compost
tion is also 10 bc conducted uhde'
other than school auspices
Best exhibi, prepared from al me
rardens of single school on June -
An the schools Of the city are eH :
pectcd to enter the contest, ana a GUY
will be the prize. .
No school money must hc Spcnt w
the gardening movement. according to
thc STIMULATION of the committee. The
board is looking TO the Rtchmond
Chamber OF Commerce and the Eclai'
Merchants Association Tor iuidS 10
carry out the plans. The man items
of cNpensc VIII he for IN instructor 70
superyise the gardening in the whole
svsteu. the blowing of the ground, the
printing OF circulars setting forth the
general plan to Be- followed. and prizes
SUPERINTENDENT CHANDLER
ENPECTS i,0n0 G.ARDl'NS
A. least 1000 gardens arc expect d
10 be planted by school children TINS
spring. according 10 superintendent
Chandler Each child Will register ms
garden and tend 1t under the super
vision of tho school authorities EN-
merit gardeners and florists VIII not he
ncrmitted to sell their services to the
children although parents and friends
may assist.
Cooperation OF all civic and educa
tional organizations is invited 10y the
schools. Among those named IN the
plan prepared yesterday arc the
Mothers Clubs. tho James River Gar
den Club and the Richmond Education
Association. Some of the orGantzh
lions. it is thought, will aid in pro
NidinE prizes.
William Fox School has Garden
already, covering one-fouith OF city
block. l.. II. Fucker, the principal II
the school. supervises tho work of the
pupils Before onions left the ranks OF
ordinary vegetables last fall and be
came costly fruit, the gardeners OF the
school planted three bushels of them
The crop will he ready for market in n
few weeks, and the return OF tho In
ccstmcnt is expected to he large.