152 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HOETICULTURAL 



In studying Nature, it, indeed, leads us to Nature's God, who is 

 reflected in His work, which bespeaks His wisdom and power. 



Children and youth, spending so much of their time within the 

 school-room walls, need a pleasant play-ground to recreate in. and 

 will amply repay the trouble in decorating it by their more willing 

 diligence in study. The school boy, far from home, views the vines 

 on the school building with a glad expression, as he sees they are the 

 same as clung to his father's house ; and the trees, they, too, seem to 

 welcome him, and look so like the landmarks at the dear old home. 



A school-yard should be attractive at least; the structure may 

 be grand and stately, teachers logical and learned, the methods 

 classical, yet with unkept grounds, it will be uninviting to the 

 student. There should be plenty of trees and shrubs in the yard for 

 health, comfort and happiness. For health, because the leaves 

 absorb the atmospheric poison and in its stead, produce oxygen, so 

 necessary for freedom from disease; for comfort, to avert the winds 

 and shield from the rays of the sun; for happiness, how it vigorates 

 us to come from a hard morning's study and sit beneath the shelter- 

 ing limbs of a tree and we gather inspiration from the waving grass- 

 blades, the swaying boughs and the rustling leaves, and the peaceful 

 tranquility soothes our ruffled tempers and recovers our scattered 

 senses, and their calm shade will bring a kindred calm to us. We 

 study botany in our schools and all know a fair knowledge of the 

 science is required before receiving a diploma, but where will we 

 find the object of our study ? Not in the school yard, but why not ? 

 Children should not grow up blind to nature's beaut}^ but should 

 learn to watch the buds unfold their hidden secrets day by day. In 

 order that they may appreciate plant life, they should be surrounded 

 by it. If they are iuclined to ignore or destroy it, the}' should be 

 taught otherwise. They should cultivate a love for flowers, they 

 are so pure and innocent they elevate our minds from the turbulent 

 cares of the world; they have a great refining influence over man- 

 kind, they appeal to the best sympathies and passions. Poets have 

 written some of their most afEecting poems on nature, and to a 

 poetic temperament no theme is more welcome than "The Beauties 

 of Nature." Flowers are used to decorate churches and public 

 buildings, in the bridal chamber, the banqueting hall, to cheer the 

 sick and dying on their restless pillows, and, at last, when done with 

 earth, to lay them among the flowers. What could be more fitting ? 



" Jn the cold moist earth we laid her when the forest cast the leaf, 

 And we wept that one so lovely should have a life so brief; 

 Yet not unmeet it was that one like that young friend of ours. 

 So gentle and so beautiful, should perish with the flowers." 



Dr. Watts was a great lovei' of flowers and used to write his 

 hymns under a spreading tree. Bismarck has a passionate fondness 



