202 
PARK AND CEMETERY, 
IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATIONS 
CONDUCTED BY 
MRS, FRANCES COPLEY SEAVEY. 
IMPROVING SCHOOL GROUNDS. 
From the educational point of view, no work open tp 
improvement organizations would seem more promis- 
ing than planting schoolgrounds — especially those of 
Public Schools, but in practice such efforts are often 
found extremely discouraging. Having been actively 
identified with this line of work as undertaken by the 
Chicago Branch of the Women's Auxiliary, American 
Park and Outdoor Art Association, certain points in 
relation to it have been indelibly impressed. Some 
of them may not apply in smaller places ; indeed, far 
better results have been secured in cities only a little 
smaller than .Chicago than here, and I am convinced 
that those who undertake this work in the smaller 
cities have an enormous advantage in several ways. 
In smaller places, the number of schools being much 
less, and the entire system of the work of School 
Boards being differently managed, the stringent rules 
that are necessarily enforced on grounds in large places 
to secure the order and system that must be maintained 
for the good of the whole, may safely be relaxed in 
some instances for the benefit of those who are doing 
improvement work. 
In large cities, access to the grounds is limited to cer- 
tain hours, before and after which time the gates are 
locked and the janitor difficult to find. This individual, 
too, is generally strictly opposed to any innovations 
likely to add a straw to his work or to his responsibili- 
ties. He must be pacified and he is unlikely to stay 
pacified. The pacification, usually largely a financial 
matter, has to be repeated at frequent intervals. Then 
the conditions are mostly very hard on all growing 
things, so that the lack of attention as to weeding, 
watering and occasional slight cultivation of the ground 
are even more disastrous than on home grounds. All 
of these things we have found to militate against the 
success of the planting done. 
From our experience, I should 
advise that the first move taken be 
(i) the enlistment of the interest 
and co-operation of all the teachers 
from the principal down, in schools 
where work is to be done; ( 2 )' the 
subsidization of the janitor; (3) 
the appointment of members living 
near the school as a committee to 
see that the plants receive the prop- 
er attention; (4) great care in the 
selection of material hardy in char- 
acter and well fitted by habit, size 
and other characteristics to the lo- 
cation where it is to be planted ; (5) 
limit the planting to unused, or re- 
served parts of the grounds, unless 
in the case of shade trees which, 
when planted in the playgrounds, 
usually should be protected by 
guards carefully designed to pre- 
sent the greatest possible bar to 
climbing; (7) the use of vines on 
the buildings (provided they do not 
have to be torn down when it is 
painted), and on adjacent walls and 
fences. 
I would also suggest that for 
immediate effect the variegated 
Japanese hop vine be used. It is 
attractive, not especially pleasant 
to handle, and therefore not likely to be abused, 
and in good soil that receives a top dressing 
or a protection of leaves in the fall, it is as 
good as a perennial because it seeds itself and comes 
up anew each spring. When there is some one to look 
carefully after the planting, I think that biennials anij 
certain perennials may well be grown from seed. These 
might include double and single hollyhocks, tall phlox 
in variety, but particularly white varieties ; columbines, 
COE COLLEGE, CEDAR RAPIDS, IA. 
This picture is reproduced for the purpose of adding emphasis to the 
suggested use of vines on school buildings. In this case, however, almost 
too many are used. It is well to distribute vines on a brick or stone build- 
ing in such a way that the stability of the foundation is clearly seen. They 
are more effective when more sparingly used. The shrubbery near the build- 
ing is also good, but the stiff beds of tender plants set in the lawn are not 
commended. Groups of shrubbery near the front (one of which should in- 
clude the tall-stemmed tree on the lawn), at the corners, and in the park 
way between sidewalk and curb, would be much more satisfactory. A vine 
and some ferns, yuccas, or eulalias near the large bowlder at the right would 
make it look more at home. The location of the sidewalks from street to en- 
trances of the building is excellent and secures what would be a fine, open 
expanse of lawn were it not cut up by the formal beds. 
