gowans] VEGETABLE GARDENING FOR CITY CHILDREN 43 



A report from a fifth grade boy was unique in that he related 

 some of his failures and what he hoped to accomplish another year 

 in the light of his experience. A fourth grade girl told in detail 

 how she had succeeded in raising half a bushel of peanuts. 



A second grade boy said "I planted radishes, lettuce, and 

 nasturtiums. Mamma had my radishes and lettuce for iinner one 

 day. Only one of my nasturtiums grew and it did not have any 

 flowers only leaves, but I pulled it up and brought it for the exhibit 

 today." 



At the close of the program the Improvement League took 

 charge of the entertainment. The children were served with ice 

 cream. This, the League believed a much better plan than offer- 

 ing prizes in which only a few children may participate. 



Altogether the results of our experiment have been gratifying 

 in the extreme. The pleasure and enthusiasm shown by the child- 

 ren, their goodfellowship and appreciation of each other's exhibits 

 were evidence enough that our efforts had been worth while. 

 Besides the direct value to the children, the plan has helped to 

 bring about a closer bond of sympathy between home and school. 

 At the same time it has aroused not a little civic pride on the part 

 of both children and adults. 



Vegetable Gardening for City Children 



Ethel Gowans 



In view of the importance of vegetable gardening for city 

 children, Dr. P. P. Claxton, United States Commissioner of 

 Education, has established a division, "Home and School Garden- 

 ing," in the Bureau of Education. This is made possible by 

 special appropriation by Congress. 



Many of us have long realized that a large number of our cities 

 could produce in their back yards, or vacant lots, all the vege- 

 tables needed tor their people. There are also many children in 

 these cities who would enjoy growing vegetables in such land if 

 some one could be employed to direct the work. 



To insure the greatest success, it would be necessary for the city 

 board of education to employ a garden teacher for each school 

 for twelve months. The children fail as gardeners when the 

 problems of plant growth become so complex that interest is 



