146 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



of the fence which I have previously described, it would be an improvement 

 upon that plan to surround the grounds with a hedge ; osage orange will suc- 

 ceed well, but barberry is more pleasing in appearance, and will require little 

 care when once establislied. 



The trees which are set in the grounds will need little attention save immu- 

 nity from injury. Tiie children must be made to understand tliat the trees 

 and plants are not to be injured, and they can be made to do so as well as they 

 can be taugiit that they are not to go into their neighbors' yards to disturb his 

 trees and flowers without permission. They should be taught that the school 

 house and its grounds are provided by the district for their use and benefit, 

 that they may receive instruction in and cultivate far other (qualities than 

 habits of destruction. And this inculcating of habits of care for public prop- 

 erty is no small element of value in education in early life. 



Of course the people of the district, or a majority of them, must desire the 

 beautifying and improvement of their school grounds and must continue to 

 interest themselves in the matter, and see to it, at their annual meetings, that 

 the necessary means are provided, and that such officers are elected as will 

 carry out measures to secure the desired results; it must he the endeavor to 

 en2:a2:e teachers who will be attentive to enforce ri2:idlv the rules intended for 

 this purpose, and who may themselves have some degree of skill and liking in 

 this direction. The details of any plan for ornamenting school grounds with 

 trees, shrubbery and flowers, it is not perhaps, further necessary to attempt to 

 indicate, they may easily be supplied, and will vary with the size of the grounds, 

 the means of the district and the number of pupils in it. The great fact to 

 be urged is that the attempt be generally made so that our country schools 

 shall become everywhere places of attraction from the beauty and adornment 

 which they present, and the appearance of utter neglect, which now prevails, 

 shall become the exception. Tiie educational value of such a result would be 

 necessarily great ; the harmonizing effect of the association of i:)lants and 

 flowers is generally, in a measure, appreciated ; the tendency h to abate and 

 soften the coarser aspects of our natures. By adopting such measures as shall 

 secure the floral adornment of our school grounds, we shall, at a small outlay 

 of trouble and expense, secure an important aid in the better formation of the 

 character of our children. 



After all we are to remember that our common schools are the institutions 

 which, in this country, it is our highest interest to foster and scatter over the 

 land. Insignificant though many of them seem to be, adorned by no splendor 

 like the native brooks and rivulets winding among the reeds and rushes, dif- 

 fused through the land like the veins through the body, many of them objects 

 of little apparent value and ahnost escaping notice, and yet in their collective 

 influence they arc the very life of the nation, the source of its fertility and 

 beauty. Thus emanating from our schools are the influences which perpetually 

 flow out and flow on, and with every wave of their dispersion are distributed for 

 the good of the nation. 



Among others to whom the questions were sent, was John J. Thomas, the 

 veteran pomologist and horticultural editor of the Country Gentleman. lie 

 responded in the characteristic letter which follows: 



OPINION OF JOHN J. TJIOMAS. 



In answer to the inquiries for the best modes for ornamenting the yards of 

 country school houses, I sb.all be unable to devote more than an hour, as ab- 



