KBUCATIONAL IXSTITUTIONS. 227 



moile have considerable collections of trees, slirubs, 

 and plants attached to them.* 



JSfote. — Although the subject of ornamental grounds 

 attached to educational institutions has arrested both 

 the attention and pens of some of our most accom- 

 plished men, every one possessed of true taste must 

 lament the want of attention hitherto paid to that de- 

 partment of education, in America ; for it should be 

 a department of our public education, as much as the 

 languages, or the sciences. Indeed, the founders of 

 most of our large institutions of leai-ning, whether 

 through the state governments, public associations, 

 corporations, or individual munificence, have, in the 

 liberality of their endowments, and ample appropria- 

 tions of grounds, intended it — theoretically, at least; 

 but in most cases, the intention has been miserably 

 neglected in the carrying out. Every boy — every 

 student — no matter what his proposed occupation or 

 profession in life, should, as a part of his education, be 

 taught the principles of vegetable physiology, and how 

 to plant a tree, and tend it afterward. It is scarce worth 

 while to occupy these pages with a homily on the im- 

 portance of embellishing, by the planting of trees, 

 grounds devoted to seats of learning — even the district 

 school : a thing so entirely obvious, on a thought of 

 the subject ; yet it is a truth, that in no country pro- 

 fessing to be civilized, is less attention paid to this than 

 in the United States. It is a barbarism, and for its 



• In 1840, we laid out an arliorctum and muiiatuve botanic garden, about twelvo 

 acres in extent, around Gwynn's Institution, I/ondopderry — an Institution for the 

 maintenance and education of orphan cliildren. Tliere is also a small farm attached, 

 In which, as well as in the ground<i, many of the children are trained to rural labor, 

 and 80 fitted to become useful members of society. The enlightened liberality which 

 Lafl unifomJy chaiacterized tlvis institution has rendered it a blessing to tlie poor, 

 which is highly and deservedly appreciated by all classes in the maiden city. 



