278 LANDSCAPE-GARDENING 



ents as well as to those the children might build 

 in future years. 



It may be said that children will destroy anything 

 that is planted. This is one reason for planting 

 school grounds so that youth may be taught to 

 respect and admire their plant neighbors. Inci- 

 dentally, certain flowers and portions of plants might 

 be used with great advantage by the teacher in giv- 

 ing instruction in botany, not in classes, but in 

 general talks that would interest and give recrea- 

 tion. Such short talks on natural objects or phe- 

 nomena which pupils can observe for themselves 

 are often restful, because they introduce variety 

 and give instruction that can be "soaked in" by 

 the students without apparent effort or respon- 

 sibility on their part. 



IN CITIES 



It would be well if many of the features of coun- 

 try schools could be retained in the city. The school 

 in the city should have ample grounds and should 

 continue to be a neighborhood center. There 

 should be space for play and for trees without shut- 

 ting out light. Perhaps the play might be con- 

 centrated more than in the country by using swings, 



