SCHOOL GARDENS IN AMERICA 



ment, and by their energy and constancy of 

 purpose, clearly demonstrated that a " bad boy " 

 is only a case of misdirected energy. The sec- 

 ond year of the experiment many new features 

 were introduced which broadened the scope of 

 the work and gave it a greater sociological 

 significance. A small house was erected and 

 equipped, and two girls were appointed each 

 day to serve as housekeepers. They were 

 taught the simple duties of housekeeping, sweep- 

 ing, dusting, scrubbing and ironing and the re- 

 sponsibilities of a hostess. The house was pro- 

 vided with window-boxes and the yard carefully 

 sodded and adorned with flower-beds. A pig, a 

 rooster, several hens and some small chickens 

 afforded additional interest. 



This experiment has demonstrated conclu- 

 sively that the vandalism incident to the con- 

 gested condition of city life, will cease when a 

 legitimate outlet for self-activity is afforded. 



Excellent work has been accomplished by 

 the members of the Junior Horticultural School 

 of the Civic Improvement League of St. Louis. 

 The League has been active and instrumental 

 in beautifying that city, and finding employ- 

 ment and amusement for boys during vacation. 

 When the plan of teaching them farming and 

 gardening was conceived, the Trustees of the 

 Shaw Garden offered five acres of land for the 



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