40G STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



nations. In the love for fine pictures, the American will compare favorably 

 with any other people. In this regard the last twenty-five years have wrought 

 a great change — thanks to our superior wood and steel engravers, and to 

 Prang's artistic and cheap pictures which now adorn the walls of so many 

 thousands of our farm homes, where they are doing a silent but great work, 

 educating the rising generation to a love for the artistic, which will tell on the 

 future of our character and achievements as a nation. 



But in this important matter of floriculture, and the adorning home with 

 flowers, shrubs, vines, and trees, our country boys — and girls too — are far 

 behind other countries, and far behind what they should be. And I fully 

 believe its effects are seen and felt in the rudeness and coarseness of manners 

 of so many of our children. 



In France and Germany the peasant laborer, no matter how poor, will have 

 a bright spot of green and bloom in his yard or window, and its refining result 

 is seen in his politeness of manner. 



In view of this need in our popular education, the very best place to begin 

 the remedy is at the public school-house. Once well started there, its effects 

 wWl soon appear among the homes of the pupils, and bloom and culture will 

 take the place of unsightly neglect, and the influence will be towards general 

 refinement of taste and manner, and that polish which adds so much to sterling 

 worth. 



May I add a word of suggestion as to some of the ways of commencing this 

 radical reform? 



The first steps well taken are the important ones to secure the full benefit of 

 the effort. 



In most school districts there are families who have had experience in laying 

 out grounds, and who can easily be induced to help, for the sake of their own 

 and neighbors' children, to keep their school up to the standard of others about. 



I would suggest the benefit of establishing a friendly rivalry among the 

 scholars, by dividing the grounds among the different families or neighbor- 

 hoods. Thus, the front of the yard to be improved and cared for by the Smith 

 neighborhood. The Smith boys to plant a certain tree in the corner; the 

 Jones ana Brown boys certain other portions. The south side to be planted by 

 the children from the "ridge road," etc., etc. The girls to plant the flowers 

 and care for them, and these to be kept in the name of the planters. 



In this way a personal interest and pride will be established and the natural 

 emulation aroused to have their side of the house as well cared for as the other, 

 which so helps on to effort. 



I would suggest that fruit trees and grape vines may well come in for a place 

 in the planting, — not forgetting the useful birch or hazel rods. 



I hope to hear of definite action in this matter from many of the auxiliary 

 societies during the present year. 



S. H. Comings. 



St. Joseph, Michigan. 



ORNAMENTING SCHOOL-HOUSES. 



In the last two volumes of our transactions we have had considerable to say 

 about beautifying school grounds, and the excuse of the Secretary for inserting 

 the capital essay by Miss Emma Field, which was read before the Grand Rapids 



