Texas has only recently taken an active interest in developing the fine arts as an important aspect of her culture. With the discovery of vast oil fields in Texas, an era of prosperity ensued that brought about rapid growth in population and wealth.

This study examines the dye plants in the Texas plains region and the extent of their dye-producing qualities. It describes the interest in handicrafts, lack of information on vegetable dyes in plains region, and a variety of other dye details.

For three years the writer has worked with children from a section in Mineral Wells, Texas, in which home environments were unnecessarily bad. They offered none of the wholesome stimuli for growth and development that homes should give. The houses were drab and cheerless, and the grounds were neglected, often grown up in weeds or cluttered with trash. Through its members, made up of sixth and seventh grade children of Travis Elementary School and including children from the affected homes, plans and procedures were formulated for improving homes, and the interest and cooperation of the parents were secured in extending the improvements over the area. By this plan the writer hoped that life might be made more satisfying for these people as a result of improved surroundings.