290 BULLETIN 160. 



recommended for this country. It 'is certainly desirable that 

 some area be set aside for the actual cultivation of plants by the 

 children and for the growing of specimens to be used in the 

 school room. However, the conditions of Europe are very 

 different from ours. In the rural school in Germany and other 

 countries, the school house is the teacher's home. He lives in it, 

 or by it. The summer vacation is short. In this country, there 

 is no one to care for the rural school ground in the long summer 

 vacation. Teachers change frequently. It is impossible to have 

 uniformity and continuity of purpose. In the Old World, the 

 rural schools are in the hamlets. 



We shall be very glad to correspond with any persons who are 

 interested in improving school premises, either on the lines 

 herein suggested, or in other directions. The improvement must 

 come, or, one by one, the rural schools will die out for lack of 

 pupils. In the struggle for existence, the pupils will more and 

 more seek the more attractive schools. There must be rural 

 schools, whether in the open country or in the hamlet ; and 

 wherever they are, they must be cheered and brightened. 



A Flower Day every October would be a fitting complement of 

 Arbor Day. Already, flower shows have been held in various 

 rural schools. They are symbols of the harvest. We want to 

 focalize this movement in the coming year. We call upon every 

 citizen for sympathy and cooperation. 



A revolution in rural school grounds will not come suddenly. 

 Here and there a beginning will be made ; and slowly the great 

 work will spread. L H BAILEY. 



