HOME GARDEN REPORTS. 247 



from the cellar, but leave it covering the surface soil about the house, 

 and the occupants find it hard to make anything grow, and are deprived 

 of that educative and home-making element — the garden. 



The desire to \vin a prize sometimes calls forth vmdesirable qualities on 

 the part of parents and children, but without the associated effort, and 

 ■without the acknowledgment of work well done, the individual home- 

 garden work would not accomplish as much as it now does. We are glad 

 to say that the right feeling is uppermost, and the people desire the garden 

 for its usefulness and beauty. 



The kindness that has been sho\^-n the garden director has been fully 

 appreciated, and the pleasant voices sajang, "Here comes the Flower-lady" 

 were so often heard that there was no fear of not being kindly welcomed. 



There is every sign that the work of the Home Garden Association is 

 firmly rooted and will have a perennial growth. The people desire to con- 

 tinue the garden work and many feel as one mother did when she said, — 

 "We enjoy our garden. I don't see why we never thought of ha\ing one 

 all these years, until it was suggested to us. Think how much we have 

 missed." 



Report of the Reading Home Gardens, 

 by mrs. emily m. babcock, reading, mass. 



The Reading Woman's Club, in May, 1907, voted that its Garden Com- 

 mittee be allowed the sum of one hundred dollars for the season's work. 



The various schools in town had been visited in April and the names 

 obtained of the children ready to begin their gardens; these pupils were 

 in the fourth to the eighth grades, inclusive. 



With the simi named we were enabled to appoint ]Mr. Hubl^ard, local 

 superintendent of the Moth Commission, also Tree Warden of the town, 

 as super\'isor of our Home Gardens. This, indeed, was a step in advance, 

 for previous sunmaers the gardens had been visited but once or twice, 

 irregularly, by a few interested club members who noted conditions and 

 gave a word of encouragement to the children. 



Seventy-five boys and girls carried on their gardens perseveringly through- 

 out the summer, a most trying one. The least number of visits made any 

 one garden was three, many four and five times. When it is considered 

 that the gardens are scattered (at least five miles) from one part of the 

 town to the other, it may form some idea of the work involved. 



In August pictures were taken by Mr. Hubbard of the most promising 

 gardens, with the yoimg gardeners. These photographs were moimted 

 and sho-mn at our annual exhibition, also at the meeting of the Woman's 

 Club in October. At the close of the season they were given to the children . 



