56 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



to the homes, and people who travel would not note that our young people are 

 lacking in that courtesy which is concomitant with an intimate relationship 

 with beautiful things. 



Mr. Knisely described the appearance of the average country school yard 

 bereft of everything attractive, and asked if it would not be a great leap to 

 do very much with flowers. Had we not better get people interested to enclose 

 the ground and plant a few trees, then gradually work toward a higher refine- 

 ment which comes with the shrubs and flowers? 



Mr. Lyon : It has long been a favorite idea with me that in every step of 

 embellishment in and about the school-house the children should be partners 

 in the work and be made to feel that the results belong to them. 



Mrs. Shepard, Battle Creek : From a considerable experience as a teacher 

 I can say that these things have a direct influence upon the conduct of the 

 scholars. It is a work well worth doing for its immediate effects upon the 

 discipline of the school. 



Mrs. Winans, Benton Harbor : It pays to keep little people busy at some- 

 thing that interests them whether at home or at school, and my experience has 

 been that ownership in the flowers, plants, or garden, whether at home or at 

 school, stimulates to the best exertion: 



Mr. Tate here gave an entertaining account of a visit to the children's 

 department at Mrs. Winans' home. 



Prof. Niz said that the embellishment of grounds was one of the important 

 considerations in arranging for school buildings in G-ermany, Prance and Bel- 

 gium, quite in contrast to our own country. 



Mr. Nowlend ; The log house may have about it the attributes that indicate 

 the refinement within. We very properly guess the kind of people within a 

 house by the appearance of the outside. 



Mr. Lyon : Usually toj little ground is laid apart for school purposes or for 

 front yards. 



Mr. Tate : There should be not less than an acre in a school lot, and even 

 larger than this would be better. Do not try to hedge about the little ones too 

 closely. 



Prof. Merry spoke of the pleasant memories associated with beautiful school 

 surroundings and fully endorsed the plan of having the children take a part in 

 contributing to the embellishment of the school premises. He did not believe 

 it was practicable to care for flowers with our present very proper arrangement 

 of school terms. 



Prof. Fassett spoke favorably of fine trees and a beautiful lawn, but thought 

 we were treading upon dangerous ground when we attempted to bring about 

 the school-house anything that required so much care as annual flowers. 



Mrs. Shepard : I have seen beautiful results from the gathering of plants 

 in pots for in-door and out-of-door decoration at the school-house. 



Mr. Lyon : It is very difficult to work up an interest in these matters when 

 there is so much apathy among the people. 



Mrs. Winans : It seems to me that early spring flowering shrubs might be 

 brought about the school-house which would require but little care and add a 

 great deal to the attractiveness of the premises. 



Mr. McClave : I believe we can have flowers about a school-house as well as 

 about a home. It may not be best to try annuals at first but there are very 

 many perennial, herbaceous plants that could be started and cared for that 

 would bring great joy with each opening blossom. 



Mr. Knisely gave a very beautiful chapter from his boyhood life in which he 



