19G STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Miscellaneous. 



Farm Drainage, French. 



Peat and Its Uses, Johnson. 



Dana's Muck Manual. 



How Crops Grow, Johnson. 



How Crops Feed, Johnson. 



Rural Affairs, J. J. Thomas ; seven volumes. 



HORTICULTURAL EDUCATION. 



In a former article on this suhject we gave a brief review of the various 

 branches of knowledge that enter into and help to make up a horticultural 

 education. We may now ask, How shall such knowledge be made general and 

 popular? A perfectly succeessful answer to this question is perhaps impossible, 

 but I may, perhaps, indicate some means by which this may be accomplished 

 in part. 



1st. I would have the first principles of this education imparted to the chil- 

 dren in the family. The orchard, the garden, the lawn, and the grove should 

 each be made a school of horticulture ; and every tree, shrub, vine, and plant 

 should be employed as illustrations of those branches of knowledge as go to 

 make up such an education. All the principles above referred to should be 

 brought out and illustrated, and impressed on the minds of the young members 

 of the family by the parent or gardener in the presence of these living illustra- 

 tions of the laws of vegetable life. Thus both the teacher and the taught will 

 be forming habits of careful observation, and at the same time become thor- 

 oughly conversant with the various objects of horticultural attention. In this 

 manner every child might be brought into communion and love with nature, 

 and thus their higher natures will be developed and their tastes cultivated and 

 refined. 



2d. The press, the great source of light and power, should be invoked to aid 

 in this work of educating and refining the people. Books and papers contain- 

 ing the best thoughts of the able masters on these subjects should be bought 

 and read. Those who really feel an interest in this subject should use their 

 influence to extend the circulation of those publications that teach the correct 

 principles of horticulture. The importance of this can hardly be compre- 

 hended by those who have had but little experience in the matter. The fre- 

 quent inculcation of these lessons in the weekly or monthly issues, slowly, 

 perhaps, but surely impress the mind with the value of these principles, and 

 lead to a greater or less employment of them in practical life. Especially is 

 the mind of the young likely to be influenced by these teachings, and thus a 

 higher taste and more correct knowledge of these subjects become common. 

 Every family should, therefore, be provided with one or more good journals, 

 teaching correct horticultural principles ; and also a few good books treating on 

 the same subjects. 



3d. May we not hope that the time will come soon when our schools will in- 

 culcate at least the more general principles of a horticultural education as out- 

 lined above? As much of the happiness of our people depends on the pleasant 



