472 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



not distance us entirely. The youngsters won about $35 at Amherst, 

 which is double their winnings of one year ago. 



Personally, I wish I had more time to devote to this work. Could 

 I afford to spend one-half of my time with these boys and girls great 

 results would be obtained. The land is here, the workers are here, and 

 the fine inspiration from the Massachusetts Agricultural College is 

 here, so good results should be forthcoming and I Imow they are. 



Arlington. 

 Several other localities did good work in the city and town 

 contests. Mrs. W. F. Eastwood had charge of the gardens in 

 Arlington. The following extracts appear in the report of her 

 work : — 



As supervisor of the garden work for the Home and School Garden 

 Association of Arlington, I wish to say that 800 home gardens and 

 1 school garden came under my care and supervision. Eleven adult 

 volunteers assisted in home visiting and in various other ways. Some 

 of the older pupils were also quite helpful in reporting on home gar- 

 dening from time to time. 



Gardening to many of the children was a new thing. Many had 

 moved from the city or had never given the subject much thought. To 

 others it was an old humdrum story. All their lives they had seen it 

 going on about them. There was no special message in the soil for 

 them. They had never observed Mother Nature and her wonderful 

 ways. There was no value they could especially share in, and no science 

 they could appreciate. It was hard work, that was all, and work mostly 

 for men. Of course, here and there were some who had a natural 

 liking for it. In one section of Arlington, the Crosby district, chil- 

 dren's home garden work had been successfully earned on by a volun- 

 teer worker. Miss Esther Wyman, for two years. A school garden was 

 started in the spring, but not kept up through the summer, as Miss 

 Wyman was usually absent through the vacation months. Prizes had 

 been awarded the children and a keen interest aroused. Thus the Crosby 

 school children were in the lead. To stimulate a desire on the part of 

 the children all over the town to catch up with these more fortunate 

 ones, and arouse a vital interest in the subject on the part of all, was 

 my first desire. How was it to be done? When I thought of Amherst 

 the way seemed clear. I would tell the children about the Bureau of 

 Plant Industry with its far-reaching system planned entirely for boys 

 and girls, and reaching all over the State. I would tell them about the 

 awards of buttons, ribbons, medals and diplomas, and of the trips to 

 Washington and nearer places for those continuing faithfully from 



