100 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



applied to public grounds or cemeteries are becoming dissatisfied 

 with its too-open policy when connected with their homes. If this 

 be so, not many years will elapse before American ingenuity will 

 grapple with this problem, and by judicious management of light 

 wooden, wire or iron fences, low tasteful walls or dwarf hedges, 

 solve it — to the national satisfaction, at least; and when so-called 

 private grounds really compass privacy, the unselfish workers for 

 public breathing places will find support for the establishment 

 and maintenance of public parks, squares, play grounds and sim- 

 ilar privileges from unexpected quarters — people will be alive to 

 those necessities who are now both dumb and blind. 



An ethical question arises, also. Would not boundary lines, 

 denoting private ownership, increase the respect of children for 

 that ownership? Two years ago at a convention of the American 

 Park and Outdoor Art Association, one of the most cnimated dis- 

 cussions arose anent the almost utter lack, in youthful minds, of 

 respect for the property rights of others. There was no differ- 

 ence of opinion regarding the fact, but diversity as to the cause 

 and remedies. The indulgence of American parents is doubtless 

 one cause; the liberty, trenching upon license, accorded youth in 

 this country, probably another. But whatever the causes, suffi- 

 cient remedies are yet lacking and are to be sought eagerly. 



A Hampton student, when asked, "Of what is the surface of 

 the earth composed?" answered: "Dirt and people," which often- 

 times seems a faithful description, so frequently is the former 

 found wherever the latter inhabits. The old definition that dirt 

 is misplaced matter being admitted, man should study how to 

 banish it from his immediate vicinity, viewing the problem in 

 its larger meaning, including thus garbage, weeds, the bill board 

 and any other unsightly or disagreeable object — cremation for 

 garbage, offal and waste of all kinds, and public opinion for bill 

 boards. 



An abundance of water is needed for utility or beauty, in city 

 or country, and is a blessing never fully appreciated unless with- 

 held. Woonsocket, South Dakota, affords a happy illustration of en- 

 terprise through organization. The women asked for a better wa- 

 ter supply, the men expressing their regret at not being able to bet- 

 ter conditions. Next, an improvement association was formed by 

 the women, with a ready response of funds by the men. An expert 

 was hired to drill an artesian well, resulting in a flow of water yield- 

 ing a pressure of one hundred and fifty-three pounds to the square 

 inch and giving six thousand gallons of water per minute. The 

 town authorities availing themselves of this well, mains from it were 



