268 agricuIvTure; of mains:. 



Physical geography is included in the school curriculum from 

 the lowest grades to the college preparatory school; from its 

 local application of hills, valleys and rivulets surrounding the 

 child's home, to the study of the science in its different phases 

 by the student of astronomy, geology, zoology, botany, etc. Of 

 course nature study may seem to be a fad and is so classed by 

 many but what is life without its "fads?" 



One of Maine's noted instructors, a gentleman of fine cul- 

 ture and scholarly attainments, a former president of one of 

 our colleges and a professor of long standing, said to me one 

 day, after he had retired from his active life work as an 

 instructor, "I would give a great deal if I had a hobby on which 

 to concentrate my thoughts in my leisure moments. Life would 

 seem broader to me and I could enjoy it to the full. I never 

 realized before what I have been losing out of life all these 

 years." 



Mother Nature is only too willing to render aid whenever 

 called upon to do so. There is nothing, so fascinating to the 

 child's mind — and "We are but children of a larger growth" — 

 as to get close to nature's breast and drink deep from her 

 hidden springs. 



We retain those lessons and they are revealed to us in after 

 years, bringing joy and blessings to our maturer years. The 

 nature lessons, brought in now and then by the tactful teacher, 

 give an added impetus to the work of the day and the language 

 lesson that follows will be the richer for the effort. 



The science of entomology, or insect life, offers a fascinating 

 fi-ld for nature work. 



It would be a good plan for each teacher to get her school 

 interested in this sort of nature work. Specimens could be 

 brought in by the scholars and reserved until the day for the 

 lesson. In the meantime they could find out all they could 

 about them so as to be ready for the lesson. Perhaps the 

 teacher would need a little time for preparation as questions 

 might be asked that would be a little puzzling to a novice in the 

 art of "bugolog}^" Several lessons of this nature during the 

 term would be of great benefit to the school in more ways than 

 one. We stand ready to aid one and all in this work by fur- 

 nishing what literature we may have, and specimens for study 

 when practicable. 



