100 Years Ago This Week: April 17-24

From The Indianapolis Times, Tuesday, April 20, 1915: Indianapolis is to plunge itself into a flower and vegetable growing contest according to plans by the Vacant Lots Cultivation & Home Decorating Committee. The cultivation of vacant lots with flowers and vegetables started on a modest scale, but it has now extended citywide. Each ward is to have a committee in charge of the work, and the choice of flowers or vegetables to be grown is optional. Judges will be chosen to pass upon the results in their respective wards. Irvingtonian James A. Everitt, editor of Up-to-Date Farming, has promised financial aid to the movement and reports that 60,000 seed packets have been distributed to school children and others so far. Because of the steady demand, this number will substantially increase. Franklin Vonnegut is chairman of the committee.