400 



THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' DEPARTMENT. 



SAN FRANCISCO'S MODEL GARDENS. 



By Dudley Moulton, County Horticultural Commissioner, San Francisco, Cal. 



San Francisco has in her own way set an example to agriculturists all over the 

 state. There is almost no extended acreage within the limits of the city and county 

 that can be used for agricultural purposes, but there are hundreds of back yards 

 suitable for small gardens. The local Council of Defense knew that the regular 

 plan for an increased planting in a large way could not be applied here, so they 



Fig. 132. Model Gardens on the grounds of a Standard Oil service station in San 

 Francisco. The product of Standard Oil Gardens is turned over to the associated 

 charities free. (From Stand. Oil Bui.) 



started a movement to help city dwellers. Model garden plots were established in 

 many parts of the city. These were intended as object lessons for those having 

 little experience and there has been a remarkable interest taken in these gardens. 

 The produce from the city gardens is being sent to the San Francisco hospitals. 



A most remarkable example has been made by the Standard Oil Company. 

 The service stations throughout the city have been models of beautiful lawns and 

 attractive ornamental flowers. Now all stations that had sufficient area are 

 flourishing vegetable gardens and models in every sense of the word. The best 

 science of gardening has been applied. The lawns were spaded under, loam and 

 manure added, a thorough seed bed prepared, and vegetables of all kinds were 

 planted. These were grouped with an idea of rotating crops and of utilizing all 

 available space. All are planted in straight rows and labeled to instruct city 

 dwellers. Now, after seven weeks, vegetables are picked every day and delivered 



