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basis of our shrub and tree collection, most of them going on the 
central meadow when more detailed plans for the arrangement 
of the general systematic collection have been developed. 
Respectfully submitted, 
(Signed) Norman Tayror, 
Curator of Plants. 
1 November, 1912. 
SCHOOL GARDENS IN CEYLON 
A number of publications that would not ordinarily be seen 
by American readers, but which contain matters of interest to 
those engaged in school garden work, have recently been received 
by the Garden library from Mr. C. Drieberg, Superintendent of 
School Gardens at Colombo, Ceylon. Four of these publica- 
tions are entitled Teachers’ Leaflets, are numbered from 1 to 4, 
and are issued by the School Garden Department of the Royal 
Botanic Gardens in Ceylon. 
In Leaflet No. 1 it is stated that the circular is being sent to 
teachers for their guidance, and it contains information under 
three heads: (1) Object of school gardens; (2) Conditions 
under which they are worked; (3) Points in the judging of 
gardens. Under the first head are enumerated twelve objects of 
school gardens, among which the following are worthy of notice: 
(a) To brighten the surroundings of the school, and make 
it what it ought to be, viz., a pleasant resort for the boys and not 
a bare and unattractive building. 
(d) To furnish a field for nature study, 7. e., the study 
of natural objects in their natural surroundings. 
(f) To give a practical turn to school life, and to provide 
a training in elementary agricultural science. 
(j) To awaken in school children a new interest in the 
cultivation of plants, and instill into them a love of nature, and 
so reconcile them to a country life and to agricultural pursuits. 
(k) To encourage school children to establish gardens at 
their homes. 
Under the second heading are enumerated six conditions 
under which school gardens are worked, among which the three 
following may be noted: 
