MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS. 149 



him an inestimable gift >vhich nothing can take away, the cheer of which no 

 calamity can darken, and which will grow more precious as the years go by. 



The plan of school-gardens commends itself in every respect to the approval 

 of thinking minds. The cultivation of the soil is the most healthful occupa- 

 tion for children in the world. The open air, the sunshine, in itself the best 

 of medicines, the scent of the upturned earth, are all life-giving, and when to 

 these is added moderate but active exercise, we have the very best prescription 

 for the establishment of a strong constitution. 



Doubtless there would be some difficulties about the first establishment of 

 school-gardens, but none that could not speedily bo overcome, for '^ where 

 there is a will there is a way." In our western towns the experiment might be 

 fairly tried, where ground is plenty and new ideas take root as easily as vege- 

 tation. 



The plat for the garden should be, of course, first thoroughly prepared and 

 laid out before the children are allowed to take part in the work ; but they can 

 be taught to plant and to work the ground in a very short time, and it would 

 be easy to excite a spirit of emulation by a S3"stem of marks or prizes. The 

 garden might be made of assistance in the study of botany, of chemistry, 

 while the practical knowledge of the work itself would be invaluable. 



It is not necessary that the expense should at first be great for plants. Wild- 

 fiowers could be sought and transplanted, seeds could often be gathered from 

 the home gardens, and parents would readily contribute to the general stock, 

 while no small benefit of the arrangement would be the turning of the small 

 streams of pocket money into a safe and healthful channel. The children 

 would soon learn to prefer, if their interest were fully aroused, the sweets of 

 the florist to those of the confectioner, greatly to the benefit of their health. 



"Wherever school-farms have been established in Europe, on quite a large 

 scale, they have been found a success, and why should not gardens be in this 

 country? We hope that the matter will be pushed with vigor, and that before 

 many years have passed every school-house in America will have its school- 

 garden. 



In answer to the Secretary's letter of questions, John Swift, a graduate of 

 the Agricultural College, and a very capable landscape gardener, sent the fol- 

 lowing interesting and suggestive letter : 



OPIKIOi^ OF MR. JOHN SWIFT. 



In reply to your kind invitation to give you my views as a landscape gardener 

 upon certain features connected with the ornamenting of country school yards, 

 I may say that my time has been so fully occupied that it has been impossible 

 for me to give such attention to this important and perplexing subject as to 

 justify my writing at length as you so kindly urged me to do in your private 

 letter, and for fear I shall procrastinate to such an extent as to make my arti- 

 cle too late for your report if I wait to think up a lengthy article, I have con- 

 cluded to write briefly, hoping it may be acceptable this time. 



Before entering upon the discussion of the several points you mention as de- 

 siring particularly to get the opinions of landscape gardeners upon, allow me 

 to speak of the subject as a whole ; for upon no subject have I ever given so 

 much thought with so poor results and so little satisfaction as upon this one 

 thing — " The most feasible method of ornamenting our country school yards.*' 

 First of all it seems too much like planting crops in the wilderness before the 

 forest trees are removed or the fences built to keep out the devouring beasts 

 that roam at large to see what they may destroy. So far as satisfying results 



