IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIW SCHOOL GARDENS IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIH 
To Commercial Clubs, Civic Leagues, 
Women’s Clubs, etc. 
Boards of Trade, Chambers of Commerce, Commercial Clubs, and 
other organizations interested in the civic welfare of their city, should 
find a very fruitful line of endeavor in the fostering of school, home, and 
community gardens. Just as we are preparing copy for this book, the 
Cleveland Commissioner of Labor informs us that there are thirty thou¬ 
sand men in Cleveland facing starvation from lack of employment. Had 
these same men and their families made use of available vacant lots 
adjacent to their homes, they could have produced sufficient foodstuff to 
go a long way toward tiding them over the winter when work is scarce. 
These organizations are always first in helping the needy, then why not be 
first in pointing out to your citizens the benefits to be derived from 
gardening? Then too, there is the beautiful side. Flowers growing in 
places where formerly there were weeds and rubbish, will make your city 
a more desirable place in which to live, and will help to interest capital 
which is looking for a place to locate its factories. Organize a Clean-up 
campaign, offer liberal prizes for the best kept lawns, most beautiful 
flower beds, best vegetable gardens, etc. in the various wards of your 
city. Arrange for a flower and vegetable exhibition to be held in 
September with a liberal list of prizes to the children. In Cleveland last 
season one bank gave one thousand dollars in prizes on gardens and 
exhibits of flowers and vegetables. Here is a pointer for your wide 
awake banks and other business houses. In many cities the leading news¬ 
papers take the initiative in organizing these Clean-up campaigns. The 
Plain Dealer is a notable example here in Cleveland. Elsewhere in this 
book will be found instructions on the various phases of this work. 
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