NEWS NOTES 273 



The Annual Meeting of the Federation was held for two days in April at The 

 Children's Museum, near Jamaica Pond. The program included an exhibition 

 of contributions from various societies and individuals, as well as visits to other 

 museums, and an excursion to the Arnold Arboretum as guests of the Brookline 

 Bird Club. 



NOVA SCOTIA 



The Journal of Education of Nova Scotia last issued shows clearly that the 

 teachers of that province are busy laying a broad and firm foundation for the 

 development of future naturalists. They are stimulating their pupils to make 

 very accurate "nature" observations which they send in twice a year to the 

 Inspector who transmits them to the Superintendent of Education. The 

 records are called Phenological Observations and are published with comments in 

 the Journal. When the pupils are going to and from school they soon become 

 careful observers of the first leafing, flowering and fruiting of trees; of the first 

 appearance of the migrating birds in both spring and fall; the dates of the 

 beginning of farm operations, as plowing, sowing, and planting; dates of the 

 opening of the rivers, of the last spring frost; the number of thunder storms. 

 Truly, such observations are bound to produce a generation of observing boys 

 and girls. 



It would be well if every school in America could adopt this method. Nature- 

 study would be given a background which would simplify the work for many 

 teachers. 



The Rural Science Training School began its summer session at Truro on 

 July I ith, to run through August 9th. The studies are pursued at the Normal 

 and Agricultural Colleges, and at the completion of the course, the candidate is 

 granted a Rural Science Diploma. He may, if he chooses, pursue at the same 

 time a course in Physical Training, for which he obtains a certificate. 



School exhibitions were held this last year in 130 schools of the province with 

 the result that both the schools and the public are more interested than ever in 

 Children's gardens, manual work and in nature collections. The exhibition, if 

 properly used, is of great value educationally and socially. 



NEW YORK 



Cornell University. The nature-study classes under the direction of Mrs. 

 Comstock, assisted by Professor George Embody and by Miss Cora Smith of 

 Erie, Pa., have had an attendance of seventy teachers representing all parts of 

 the United States. 



Chautauqua Institution. Professor Schmucker assisted by Miss Emma Davis 

 of Johnstown, Pa., have been conducting classes of enthusiastic nature students 

 during the summer. 



PENNSYLVANIA 



Sewickley. The Sewickley Valley Audubon Society, of 234 members, has 

 had a year of increasing activity, with lectures by Ernest Harold Baynes on 

 feeding and attracting birds; by W. S. Thomas (City Ornithologist of Pitts- 

 burgh) on the placing of bird-houses; and by Henry M. Oldys, who was 

 employed for lectures, study classes and outings which consisted of morning 

 and twilight field walks conducted twice a week for six weeks in May and June. 



