HOME GARDENING.

Waikato Times, Volume 110, Issue 18518, 24 December 1931, Page 6

HOME GARDENING.

SOCIAL WELFARE LEAGUE. A GRATIFYING RESULT. STRATFORD SCHEME OUTLINED. Gratfying success lias attended the Home- Garden scheme inaugurated bj the Waikato Social Welfare League, and that ihe seeds supplied some five months ago to (lie 133 married unemployed were taken full advantage of is evident in tiie many substantial vegetable gardens In the town that will assist considerably in solving the larder problem over Hie winter months.

In each case half a hundred-weight of potato seed, together with half a hundred-weight of artificial manure, was allocated to eacli family. Bean, pea, cabbage, lettuce, beetroot, parsnip and carrot seed was also included in the allocation.

The gardens, the majority of which have already been drawn upon, are showing evidence of careful attention. They have been inspected by the Welfare League officer (Major R. F. Sansom), who considers they will serve to carry the families over the winter. In a few cases only were the recipients of seed devoid of a rudimentary knowledge of gardening, and in these cases the League's officer was able to give practical advice. The Stratford Scheme. Particulars of the Stratford gardening scheme have been received by the chairman of the Waikato League (Mr H. Valder). The scheme in Stratford has been controlled chiefly by the local Horticultural Society, with the support of the local Unemployment Board. The gardening officer, himself a member of the unemployed, has proved an efficient official in this respect. He is more in the nature of a working assistant. In many cases he stays half a day in a“new chum’s” garden and helps with the digging, or when the man of the family lias gone to work out of town he assists the woman in the home to carry on with the garden. He visits all gardens every Sunday. “At the formation of our club,’’ states tiie communication, “we had delegates present from every public body and club in town and made a compact with each other that no charity in kind or in cash would be given or passed over to any organisation which distributed food indiscriminately next winter.”

Of the 80 men enrolled in the scheme 74 had made good. Land was found for about ten men and all made good use of It. Some of the older, experienced gardeners had really wonderful gardens, of which the town was justly proud. The greatest social gain, however, was the efforts put forth by men who never knew the A.B.C. of gardening. Recently a little sneak-thieving had been experienced. At present there ■ were over a quarter of a million cabbage, cauliflower, brocolli and leek plants, the majority of which were raised by club members, in process of being planted out. Keen interest had been taken in Ihe work and a lively competitive spirit existed which xvas reflected in many excellent gardens throughout Hie town.