206 CHILDREN'S GARDENS 



Never has the garden been a greater boon to the 

 neighborhood, than this season. Adults, recovering 

 from prolonged illnesses, felt that here was a spot of 

 beauty to entice them forth into the fresh air. 



OBSERVATION PLOTS. 



The observation plots, in previous years having 

 proved their value to the older children and adults of 

 the neighborhood, were not only utilized for the same 

 purpose in 1908, but were enlarged upon. The names 

 of the various products of these plots will be found 

 in the appended list. 



But one I would like to speak of especially: A 

 4x8 foot plot of flax proved to be a poetic link be- 

 tween the garden and the Irish element of the neigh- 

 borhood. It was not necessary for the director or 

 teachers to explain the life history of this plant. A 

 ray of joyous light would come into the most dis- 

 couraged and saddened faces as they recognized this 

 soft green plant with its tiny blue flower, which car- 

 ried their memories back thousands of miles and 

 many years to the dear old home in Ireland, where 

 they in their youth had planted, grown and prepared 

 this fibre plant which was to evolve into the snowy 

 linen spun and woven in the home. One laborer, 

 who thought he would like to prepare some of it as 

 in the olden times, disappointed at his lack of success, 

 not realizing that his hand had lost its cunning, or 

 perhaps the fascination was one largely of imagination, 

 attributed his failure to the running water of modern 



