-no MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



A news item in the "Park and Cemetery" mentioned that suc- 

 cessful work with the children had been carried on in a certain 

 town in Massachusetts by an improvement association, giving the 

 name of the secretary. A letter of inquiry brought a courteous, help- 

 ful letter, clippings, etc., which told of results in general. Very 

 little was given in the way of details ; all these we had to work out 

 for ourselves ; and I purpose now giving the details of our methods, 

 hoping they may aid others in taking up similar work. 



The members of the school board were interviewed and found 

 to be favorable to our project. Our superintendent of schools was 

 very enthusiastic and rendered us signal service by his influence with 

 the teachers and children. 



We selected for distribution among the children six varieties of 

 seeds, chosen for three special qualifications : first, ease of culture ; 

 second, good display about the home ; tliird, those that would stand 

 a reasonable degree of abuse at the hands of the children. The 

 varieties were as follows : Morning Glories, Sweet Alyssum, Four 

 O'Clocks, Nasturtiums, Calendulas and Zinnias. 



We procured lOO manila envelopes, with patent fasteners, had 

 them printed witli a list of the seeds, and also left space for the 

 name and street address and grade ot the child and name of teacher 

 — these entries to be made by the teacher. A cross was to be made 

 opposite the names of the varieties wanted by the child. A charge of 

 one cent per packet of seed was made. 



The children were taken in hand by the superintendent and 

 teachers, the plan explained, and the envelopes distributed among 

 those who signified a willingness t'o plant seeds. They were di- 

 rected to take these home to obtain the sanction of parents and 

 to get the money. A day or two brought' a request for more en- 

 velopes, and another lOO were printed and sent to the schools. Still 

 more were wanted. When the returns were all in there were 244 

 children who had joined tlie Flower Band. A large number had 

 taken all of the varieties, a very few taking but one. It was under- 

 stood that if any were found too poor to buy, they were tO' be fur- 

 nished the seed quietly. The money received for the seeds, paid 

 for the manila envelopes and the printing, with between two and 

 three dollars over, which was used in purchasing a few awards. A 

 notice was put in the papers that a prize would be given for the iirst 

 bouquet of all the flowers, and for the best bouquet. 



Our committee was a little late in getting the seeds to the child- 

 ren, and although verbal instructions were given for the care of the 

 seeds, these were forgotten by the majority, and many of the children 

 planted as the spirit moved them. Nearly every week something 



