50 THE NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [ 2 : 2 -February, 1906 



accomplished to date, after a two years' experience; and it is hoped 

 that the readers of The Nature-Study Review will strive to realize 

 the difficult position of one not burdened with too much modesty, 

 writing about his own work, which he is sufficiently enthusiastic to 

 believe is one of the few beginnings in Canada that is to work a 

 revolution in rural communities in the relation of children and parents 

 to their school. 



Bowesville, situated six miles south of the Dominion capital, has 

 long been regarded as one of the most progressive sections in the 

 progressive County of Carleton ; and it is to the active interest of its 

 people in the welfare of their school that the credit for a large measure 

 of the success of the movement here is due. They have never 

 interfered but to aid. Land sufficient to make a school ground com- 

 prising two and one-half acres was purchased, and this was enclosed 

 by a neat fence with turned posts and attractive gates. In laying out 

 the ground many trees, products of past Arbor Days, were retained; 

 but looking to the future young trees from local nurseries were exten- 

 sively planted, alike for economy and uniform size. Along the north 

 and west fences two rows of the Norway spruce were planted ten feet 

 apart, in order to form a wind-break, and in time an arboreal 

 promenade similar to the one seen at the Ontario Agricultural College 

 at Guelph. Next a row of Austrian pines was planted along the 

 south side of the lot ; and two hedges, one of Norway spruce and the 

 other of purple barberry, were utilized to cut the ground into front and 

 rear sections. The front section, the original play-ground, was laid out 

 in grass lawns, with flower borders along the paths, ornamental shrubs 

 and a rockery. This division is already surrounded by large maples, 

 and forms an ideal spot for social gatherings, for it boasts a tennis- 

 court, and is well provided with rustic "seats beneath the shade" 

 for purposes mentioned by one Oliver Goldsmith. The school build- 

 ing is situated in this front section. The rear and larger portion of 

 the grounds has been sub-divided into boys' campus and school-garden 

 proper, by a hedge of native arbor-vitae. The boys' play-ground has 

 been levelled and grassed, and one portion of it devoted to an out-door 

 basket-ball court. This will suffice for the general plan of the 

 grounds, and we now come to the children's out-door laboratory — 

 their school-garden. 



The daily attendance at Bowesville school may be placed 

 at approximately fifty children, ages ranging from six to sixteen. 

 The plan of dual ownership of garden plots has been followed here, a 



