IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII,I| I ,I, I1III | W SCHOOL GARDENS IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIM 
one. Sometimes we are able to secure sufficient fertilizer in the neighbor¬ 
hood. In other instances we are obliged to use street-sweepings. In some 
cases the pupils collect the sweepings from the streets for their plots. 
At the present time we are cultivating over seventy school gardens. 
So far as possible we endeavor to give pupils individual plots, teaching 
them at the same time how to co-operate with each other. We have 
had comparatively little trouble in finding teachers who are interested, and 
willing to make a reasonable sacrifice for the sake of the work. However, 
it soon became apparent that, if we were to succeed in conducting first- 
class school gardens, we must be given teachers who could spend more 
time upon the subject. Last February we were allowed three more 
special teachers, each of these looking after the work in two and three 
gardens, working over-time trying to cover too much responsibility. No 
more enthusiastic and devoted group of teachers can be found anywhere 
than those who are instructing our young people in this the oldest of 
vocations. 
It has been our idea from the very first to encourage home gardening 
at every opportunity, believing it to be a very large factor in the 
success of the school gardens. Over a year ago, with the help of the 
local press, and an outsider who was much interested, we organized what 
we called “City Garden Soldiers”, whose war-cry was “WE CONQUER 
THE EARTH.” The children selected a Captain, often a girl, from 
among their number, the class room being the unit of recruiting. Each 
paid 2 cents for a button, and about 8,000 enlisted, much good home 
gardening resulting. 
After the “City Garden Soldiers” movement was started we believed 
we should be able to offer some attractive, appropriate prizes, but the 
matter hung fire until last spring. After considerable agitation among 
business men and others interested in the “Beautify California for 1915” 
project, we succeeded in convincing the city committee that the school 
children would be their strongest ally in the movement, and they secured 
an appropriation of $35,000.00 to encourage home and school gardening, 
all for 1915. They also followed our suggestions in appointing Mr. C. L. 
Schufeldt to act as organizer and director of this work. 
The Home Gardening movement has received much help and encour¬ 
agement this year, because the Parent-Teacher Association has been 
induced to organize and assist the 1915 committee and the schools. Most 
of the schools of the city have entered the contest for the prizes offered 
by the committee, and in the school districts, the pupils have been organ¬ 
ized, and are actively at work on the home gardens, vacant lots, etc. 
At the present time there are about 24 of us spending all of our time 
in school gardening, and many other teachers who are receiving training 
for the future through part time gardening. 
Our present plan is to devote a wide border of; the garden to orna¬ 
mentals, including vines on the fences, large growing annuals, perennials, 
etc. Oftentimes we border the main walks with low growing orna¬ 
mentals or dwarf annuals. The vegetable plots are made a good size 
to accommodate several pupils each, and we are endeavoring to secure a 
co-operation whereby several rows of a kind may be planted together, thus 
avoiding a patchy effect. 
December 8th, 1914. Clayton F. Palmer, Supervisor. 
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