206 Nebraska State Horticultural Society. 



This school park was started by accident, as it were, through the- 

 incident of the planting of some peach pits by the janitor. These pits 

 were planted in the back ground near the border of the grounds and 

 were allowed to grow to bearing age. The children were interested of 

 course in the picking of the fruit from these trees and from this be- 

 ginning they were led to the planting of a school nursery, where flowers- 

 and tree seeds were planted and cared for. From this nursery in a few 

 more years trees were taken to be planted in the school grounds and 

 also at the home of many of the children. Through this youthful in- 

 fluence the parents were interested in tree planting and many homes 

 were made brighter and better thereby. 



Th children were zealous for the care of the grounds and if a 

 stranger or rude boy was seen to harm a tree or pluck a flower he was 

 quickly reported to those in authority. 



This city is but an example of what any of our western cities may 

 do through their school children under a little wise direction on the 

 part of the teachers or school board. 



A SCHOOL PATRONS' MEETING. 



In the city where I reside, with a popuation of about 2,500, we or- 

 ganized a school patrons' association last winter that has proved to be 

 an interesting and profitabe means for aiding and encouraging the work 

 and management of our public school. 



We meet every month in our high school room and listen to an 

 address by some leading school worker, or a paper prepared by one of 

 the patrons, which is made the subject for general discussion. Our 

 program is spiced also with song and an occasional reading or recita- 

 tion by the young people. At our last meeting we listened to an address 

 by Professor Miller of the forestry department of the state university. 

 He told us of the example of the city of Joliet, 111., which I have already 

 described. With this address as an incentive we will plan to perfect 

 an organization next month to take up the work of school parks and 

 street tree planting. 



These organizations are being perfected in many of our cities under 

 the name of Civic Improvement societies. 



Prof. Miller told us of one of these societies in the east that was 

 composed entirely of women, but had done a very large work in the 

 ■way of park and tree planting throughout their city. 



