56 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [1 1:2— Feb., 1915 



edition of ten thousand was in demand soon after the first edition 

 of twenty thousand appeared. 



The teaching of agriculture has been a feature of the public 

 schools for several years. It is the intention of the board of 

 education to consider the economic side of this instruction; to 

 introduce eventually instruction in raising animal food such as 

 poultry and rabbits. The seventy-five school gardens in operation 

 in the city have proved practicable in reducing the cost of living 

 in hundreds of families. The products are sold to the pupils at 

 nominal prices, the money thus derived being used in the purchase 

 of seed and for the upkeep of the soil. 



The city beautifying plan gave a tremendous impetus not only 

 to flower planting in the homes of children but to vegetable 

 growing in vacant ground, as the prizes include vegetable and 

 flower gardens. 



While the actual cultivation done by the children has been of 

 tremendous economic value and has resulted in literally millions 

 of blossoms where none existed, the most potent and far reaching 

 effect of the movement is believed to be in the bringing near to 

 nature of thousands of developing minds during their most im- 

 pressionable period. The little gardeners in their zest to excel 

 eagerly absorb all information on plants that is available. In 

 turn they impart this to others. Part of their work is to demon- 

 strate their own garden work, explaining to their fellows the 

 technical part of what they ha\ T e done and why. The love of 

 growing things has been instilled deeply in most of the children 

 taking part in the city beautiful plan. The idea of aiding in an 

 enterprise of wide scope gave them pride in their work. When 

 the first fruits of their labors were seen their activities increased 

 correspondingly. Tender care is being lavished on struggling 

 little plants that have been brought into the sunlight through the 

 efforts of the caretaker who, in thousands of instances, is a child 

 receiving its first lessons from Nature. 



The children are taught of the insect enemies of flowers and 

 vegetables and how to overcome them. With their own hands 

 they are developing the best of Mother Earth and learning to 

 love the beautiful and useful of her products. 



In discussing the children's part in the City Beautiful movement, 

 John H. Francis, superintendent of the city schools, said: 



