32 TEANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



and other States, cabbages from Holland, onions from Bermuda and 

 Spain, flowers from Chicago? While ubiquitous tree peddlers 

 gather in the shekels from slaughtered innocents, who are furnished 

 by him with what purports to be the latest and best variety of 

 White Grape, Clematis or Tree Rose, at three to five dollars each. 

 Russian apple, or mulberry trees, hardy, and to produce an abund- 

 ance of luscious flavored fruit, at fifty cents to one dollar and fifty 

 cents per tree — an especial favor, as assurance is given that the 

 home nurseryman cannot supply them.. 



For " cheek " they are without a rival in the genus Jwmo, and 

 in my opinion are one of the greatest arguments that can be ad- 

 vanced for the education of the young in rudiments of practical 

 horticulture. Many, if not most of them, have no practical knowl- 

 edge of the business, yet are ever ready to disparage those whose 

 lives have been spent in active service, and give advice to their cus- 

 tomers — which controls the action of the masses, far more than the 

 counsels of horticultural societies. 



There is no work to which children take more kindly than in 

 the garden, and none is more repulsive to most adults who were not 

 accustomed to it in early life. In how many cases the entire care 

 of not only the flowers, but the vegetable garden, is left to the 

 women of the household, while the long list of luscious fruits, 



— fruits so easily grown, — to be enjoyed in profusion by any one, 



— even on a village lot, are looked upon as luxuries, and bought on 

 rare occasions. 



The generous provision made by the federal government for do- 

 nating homes under the timber culture act, is familiar to all. From 

 considerable inquiry made of frontier settlers, I am satisfied that 

 very many who have titles under it are not justly entitled to them, 

 and are ignorant of the proper manner of doing the work. 



In France, Austria and Sweden there are thousands of schools 

 with gardens attached to them, under the care of a properly quali- 

 fied teacher. In Vienna, where Dr. Schwab started the movement, 

 the authorities appropriated land and money rather reluctantly for 

 the experiment, and three years later, willingly and enthusiastically 

 doubled the land in order that all the children of the city might 

 come under its cheering, refining influences. In Cambridge, Mass., 

 the experiment has been tried with most gratifying results. Dr. 

 Northrop, and other prominent educators of Connecticut, are advo- 

 cating tree planting by school children. 



Good work has been done at the Industrial University, Cham- 

 paign, and Normal University, at Normal, but as this is work with 

 which all should be familiar, it should be taught practically in all 

 our schools. 



As to details for decorating school grounds, it is left in the 

 hands of my abler colleague, and with the carrying out of the work 

 herein suggested there need be no fear but they will be greatly im- 

 proved. 



