Purdue University
Agricultural Extension Service
Mimeo 4H-128
March 1954(2m)
4-H LEADERS GUIDE FOR
4-H HOME GROUND IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
By
H. W. Gilbert
The leader should always know the objectives of the project as stated in the first paragraph of the Members Outline and Record Book:
1.	To provide an opportunity for boys and girls to learn something of landscape design and its use in improving their own home surroundings.
2.	To make it possible for boys and girls to develop their natural interest in trees, shrubs, and flowers.
3.	To develop skills in growing trees, shrubs, flowers and lawn plants. He should be certain that the parents are going to assist with their boy’s and girl’s program. Without their participation the home ground improvements would be limited.
Literature To Be Used:
The 4-H member will be required to study the following:
1.	'’Developing the Farmstead Plan" -• Ext. Bul. 345.
2.	’’Trees - Their Planting and Care" - Ext. Bul. 252.
3.	’’Ornamental Shrubs - Their Planting and Care" - Ext. Bul. 324.
4.	’’Ornamental Evergrees - Their Planting and Care'’-Ext. Bul. 320.
5.	’’The Lawn - Its Making and liaintenance” - Ext. Bul. 254.
6.	’’The Next Step with Your Trees and Shrubs” - Ext. Bul. 340.
These bulletins will be supplied for the leader, and he should always have them available for his reference. The 4-H members’ literature will be available from the County Extension Office.
The leader should determine the availability of other literature sited at the local library or from other sources.
Division I
The first activity of the club member is to score his home grounds, the leader is asked to assist the member and his parents in using the score card and scoring the place. The leader’s kit contains three score cards: the Farmstead, the Suburban Home, and the Town Home Grounds.
NOTE: The leader should examine all farmstead score cards to be used.  At the top left hand side of the score card some were misprinted and read "The Ideal Town Home Grounds This should be changed to read "The Ideal Farmstead.”
The club member should retain a copy of the score card made in Division I for comparison with the score card he will complete in Division III.
The second activity in Division I is the clean-up program of the grounds, including the area about the barnyard. The 4-H boy or is also to assume the responsibility for keeping the grass mowed, insofar as it is reasonable.
It will be helpful to the club member for the leader to go over the "clean-up" objectives with them to establish his intentions. If any phase of work that would improve the general appearance of the place has been overlooked, he may call it to the attention of the member's parents. If it is an activity that for some cause cannot be completed this year, his record may show intent to accomplish it in Division II.