16 SCHOOL AND HOME GARDENING 



duller a small fee for plants, seeds and luiiilLzers. This plan 

 helps to exclude applications from those having too mucli 

 ambition at first and too little persistence later on. The 

 payment of a small fee aids in maintaining the interest of 

 the younger gardeners, particularly at times of greatest dis- 

 couragement. The fee may be $1 the first year, $2 the second 

 year, $3 the third year, $4 the fourth year and $5 for each 

 succeeding year. Preference should always be given to for- 

 mer users of each garden plot when the assignments are made. 

 The prospect of being re-assigned the same garden the follow- 

 ing season induces the gardener to keep down weeds, put the 

 land in better condition, become familiar with its needs, and 

 use winter cover crops or grow winter products. 



Contributions for prizes to be awarded to those most suc- 

 cessful in different lines of garden work are easily secured 

 from citizens interested in the work. An exhibition held at 

 the close of each season may bo the source of raising funds, 

 by the sale of admission tickets. Funds are often supplied by 

 park commissioners, boards of trade, city councils, factory com- 

 panies, improvement associations, and philanthropic citizens. 



Good and Bad Charity. — It is usually considered bad 

 charity to give money to able-bodied people to aid in their sup- 

 port. A much) better form of charity is to provide conditions 

 whereby such persons may aid themselves. The Vacant Lot 

 Gardening Association says to any such person : " Do for your- 

 self," " Be a man," " You have muscles, you have arms, use 

 them." The Association provides the means whereby such 

 effort on the part of poor people may be applied by them to 

 their own support. 



This form of charity gives better results than any other. 

 Instead of supporting the poor and dovni-trodden in a state 

 of idleness, which encourages pauperism, they are sliown how 

 to support themselves, or to aid in their own support. They 

 are given employment in the free, open air, away from the 

 channels of vice nnd crime. 



