384 STATE rOMOLOGlCxVL SOCIETY. 



soil, and seeds. In the country, Avhere there arc grounds fenced in, some 

 sheltered part might easily be laid olf and divided by narrow boards nailed on 

 stakes driven down to keep them in place, into a row of little lots on each of 

 which some easy-growing and productive plant may be set out to show what it 

 Avill do when it has room, good soil, and sufficient support. On part of each 

 lot the occupant for the season can try any of the experiments that children's 

 whims susfsrest so freelv. These will fail more or less, but their failure will be 

 a lesson. The reason will appear; and the reason, too, why the strawberry 

 plant (grown in a pot for setting out), or tiie radishes, or tomato (trained up 

 a stake), or peas, or potato, or cucumber, or rose, have made such complete 

 and profitable growth : thcic latter being i)rotccted and cultivated under tho 

 teachers advice and care. Such instruction is given in thousands of schools 

 in other countries. There is rpiite as urgent need of it here. — JS'ew York 

 Tribune. 



DECORATING SCHOOL GEOUNDS. 



The following article by Prof. 0. L. AVhitney, of Muskegon, was prepared 

 for our series earlier in this volume but came too late, and we gladly insert it 

 here. 



It is an axiom in education that childhood is the most important period, for 

 then the mind is most susceptible to the influence of the slightest impressions 

 Avhether good or ill. Hence no system of instruction is correct that loses sight 

 of this important fact, and knowing it, fails to supply the right kind of 

 tuition. 



It is equally true that the unconscious tuition given children is as important 

 as the conscious instruction, hence every surrounding, every example, every 

 object that takes the attention as well as every precept should be of the 

 highest character and best calculated to produce the most pleasant sensations, 

 to give the perfect preceptions of only these elements that aid to become 

 lovely, conceptions of the pure, the good and the beautiful in nature and art; 

 to be woven into the thoughts and words of life's happiness and prosperity, 

 and man's usefulness to all his fellows and for the service of his God. Then 

 how important that all the child's early years should be pleasant in surround- 

 ings and every object that the senses operate upon should be attractive and 

 pleasant. 



Such always should be the home of the early years of childhood that all 

 instruction, unconscious or conscious — by precept and example should be tho 

 best — and the best calculated to give the greatest number of pure impressions 

 to the virgin mind. 



Kext to the home and its surroundings and i-)arents M'ho control it, is the 

 school and its adjuncts and the teacher who manages it. Next to the home 

 the school claims the child's attention, and iias to do with the child's health 

 and pleasure. Is it not a matter then of importance that the school and its 

 surroundings be well considered by those who would truly awaken the immor- 

 tal capabilities of thougiit and judgment entrusted to their care in the persons 

 of their children? Then, we have the best of reasons for the fervent plea we 

 make for children and their future, when we ask that the grounds surround- 

 ing all public schools be ornamented with trees, shrubs and flowers, to make 

 them beautiful and attractive — pleasant to the eye and inviting to all, even the 



