EDUCATIVE AND ECONOMIC POSSIBILITIES OF SCHOOLDIRECTED HOME GARDENING IN RICHMOND, IND.

Aim and scope. The purpose of this study was to collect facts and figures on the cost of vegetable foods to city families, the possibilities of raising much of this food in the city, and the educational value of garden training to the people, especially the children, of the city of Richmond.

WAYNE COUNTY AND RICHMOND.

County and city. Since Richmond is the marketing, shipping, and industrial center of an agricultural county, the economic relations of city and county are closely interwoven. By the 1910 census figures between 90 and 95 per cent of the land area of Wayne County is in farms, and the average value of this land is from $50 to $75 per acre (this value has increased very rapidly in the last five years). The State of Indiana is divided into seven divisions, according to land values, and Wayne County is placed in the fourth division. In comparison with the other 91 counties, Wayne stands thirty-fourth in the value of farm property, twelfth in population, twenty-fourth in the production of potatoes, and forty-fourth in the production of other vegetables. A comparison of amounts and values of the agricultural products of the county demonstrates that the majority of the farmers are engaged in general farming. Near the city there are a few specialized farms growing vegetables and berries for the city market. but the small number prevents oversupply and consequent low prices even in the periods of marketing shortseason crops.

THE CITY OF RICHMOND.

Growth of the city. The growth of the city has been gradual. At no one time does there seem to have been a rapid increase in population, with consequent high lot values. In topography the land both in and near the corporate limits of the city is level, which, with low values per front foot, has reacted in the laying out of comparatively large building lots. The size of lots ranges from 40 by 160 feet to 70 by 165 feet, and many home grounds are much larger. Lots completely covered or nearly covered by buildings are only to be found where the back parts of corner lots have been sold for the building

of houses facing on cross streets. A large proportion of the families live in single houses. By the 1910 census there were 5,533 dwellings for the accommodation of 5,874 families, or only 341 cases of families living in apartment houses or with other families. In the last five years the number of families has increased to 6,607, and from the number of building permits issued dwellings seem to have increased at about the same rate as has the number of families, but a larger percentage of flats has been erected. The figures on dwellings and families correspond very well with the estimated growth in population of between two and three thousand over 22,324, as given in the 1910 census.

Architectural styles.-The architecture of the homes is, in the main, very plain. With the exception of two small sections, straightline building has been the rule. In the older and better parts of the city this has resulted in rather substantial-looking homes, placed on an average of 35 feet from the curb, thus leaving a good space for lawns, which are well kept in most cases. Many shade trees have been planted, but little attention has been given to breaking the box-like lines of the older square house without porch or the more modern house (Pl. 1, fig. A) by the planting of vines and shrubbery.

PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF GARDEN PRODUCTS. In any consideration of the economic value which the home garden may have to city families, the place of production, methods of purchase, and cost of vegetables and small fruits need to be studied. Question blanks were filled out by 11 grocers and 58 housewives. The grocers' reports are summarized as follows: 65 per cent of the fresh vegetables sold through their stores during the year are secured from farmers, and 35 per cent through commission houses. In the total sale of vegetables to the people of the city, the grocers sell from 70 to 75 per cent; the farmers' market, 20 to 25 per cent; and hucksters, 5 to 10 per cent. The cost of fresh and canned vegetables to a family of five persons is estimated by the storekeeper at between 25 and 40 cents per day, or a total cost of from $91.25 to $146 per year. The grocers were unanimous in stating that the consumption of canned vegetables had increased very rapidly during the last few years, and, on the average, estimated that from 40 to 50 per cent of all vegetable foods used in the city are now purchased in cans. One store proprietor illustrated this increase by stating that seven years ago a saleswoman for a prominent brand spent two weeks in selling between two and three hundred dollars' worth of canned goods to housewives, whereas, in the same length of time this year, between three and four thousand dollars' worth was disposed of. Forty-seven housewives reported that of the vegetables purchased for use in their homes, 68 per cent came from the grocery store, 24

per cent from the farmers' market, and 8 per cent from the huckster. Reports which were received from 50 families, with a total of 230 individuals, give the daily cost of fresh vegetables alone as 4.6 cents per person, or a total of $83.95 for a family of five for one year. The cost of canned vegetables as given by the housekeepers is much lower than the grocers' estimate, and exactly half of that spent for fresh vegetables, or for 47 families containing 213 people the daily cost per individual was 2.3 cents, or a yearly cost for five people of $41.97.

The figures on small fruits (including strawberries) as received from grocers and housewives are much less definite. They agree, however, in stating that from 75 to 80 per cent of the year's sale of berries is sold to the consumer through the grocery stores; that fully 90 per cent of the berries used are purchased during the 10 weeks to 3 months that local berries are on the market; and that the amount of canned berries consumed in the average home is small. Fortysix housekeepers, representing families containing 209 persons, report a daily average cost per person, during the 10 weeks that local berries are on the market, of 3.7 cents, or a total cost for a family of five for 70 days of $12.95. Taking the housewives' figures as a basis, a family of five persons spends on an average $138.87 per year for canned and fresh vegetables and fresh berries. The canning of fruits and vegetables in the home has decreased, not over 5 to 10 per cent of the amount consumed being home canned.

The price of vegetable and small-fruit foods to the city family depends largely on the competition between grocers. From the standpoint for which it was intended, the farmers' market seems to be largely a failure. On the one hand, the city purchasers claim that prices are not less than at the stores, and, on the other, a large number of farmers consider it more profitable to sell the produce all at once and spend the extra time in farm work. City ordinances permit the selling of farm produce to the homes without a huckstering license, but, again, the element of the value of the farmer's time enters, and very few take advantage of this method of selling.

Cultivation and irrigation.-The soil in the city back yards and vacant lots is almost without exception well adapted to vegetable gardening. There are a few filled lots, but the number is exceedingly small. In most seasons the rainfall is sufficient for the maturing of crops if the water is conserved by cultivation. In extremely dry spells back-yard gardens may be watered without extra cost, as the city water company makes its charge per front foot without regard to the depth of the lot. In the cases of vacant-lot gardens, there would be an extra cost for the use of water.

1 When compared with other investigations, the above annual vegetable costs, as given by grocers and housewives, seem abnormally high.

GARDEN PROMOTION OF RECENT YEARS.

Charity organizations and schools. Several organizations have fostered family gardening, and two of the elementary schools have conducted school gardens. The high-school classes in botany purchase seeds through the school, and the students are encouraged to make home gardens. Previous to the last garden season, one social workers' club, or committee of such club, was instrumental in obtaining vacant lots for the use of families who wished to conduct gardens. A few volunteer workers gave freely of their time, and good results were accomplished. Last season this work was conducted by the Central Bureau of Charities. In all, 46 applications for garden land were received, and gardens were found for 22 families. No accurate record of the productive result of these gardens was kept, but considering the limited time that could be given to the supervision of the work by the secretary of the central bureau it was considered a success. So far as can be learned, gardening for its economical results or educational value has not become the duty of the workers under any permanent organization, such as the school board or Central Bureau of Charities. While no attempt should be made to detract from the value of what has been done, the work has lacked definiteness by not having been put on a sound financial basis and under the direction of trained and practical garden leaders.

THE NINE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

(See Tables 1, 2, and 3.)

The elementary school districts form convenient divisions for the study of conditions in different parts of the city. In the main, these districts are remarkably uniform in size (Pl. 2), when it is considered that the boundaries are marked by the principal business streets, the railroad lines, and the Whitewater River. In the character of homes, the size of lots, and the living conditions of the people, there are marked variations which merit separate discussion for each district and school.

Finley District.--The Finley school district includes a part of the oldest and most closely built section of the city. The houses are built on smaller lots than is common in other districts. Seventy per cent of the people rent their homes, and some of the home grounds are not well cared for. In other homes well-kept lawns are to be found, and in these homes every square foot of back-yard space is often used for the cultivation of a kitchen garden. About 12 per cent of the back yards are too small for the production of enough vegetables for the families, but large vacant areas are to be found short distances away. An examination of 10 blocks, containing 214 houses, was made and gave the following result: 26 had no garden