AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES 103 



by giving prominence to the subject in its published proceedings. 

 Since 1893, one feature of its annual meeting is the session 

 devoted to hearing reports on school gardens. The growth of 

 the school-garden movement of the United States owes much 

 to this society. 



The following are a few extracts from letters written by 

 officers of some agricultural societies in answer to an inquiry 

 as to what their societies are now doing toward promoting 

 agricultural education. These are typical expressions, and are 

 taken at random from a number of replies : 



Our meetings are always public and we invite teachers, students, and the 

 general public to attend the sessions. We have not taken any definite steps 

 toward the teaching of agriculture or horticulture in the schools, although 

 whenever occasion offers, we are glad to say a word favoring the move- 

 ment (Vermont). 



We have held sessions at the State Normal Schools and have had ad- 

 dresses that we thought would be of value to prospective teachers (New 

 Jersey). 



We think it is an important subject and hope to see more of at least 

 the rudiments of horticulture taught in the schools soon (Kansas). 



We have papers and discussions in nearly every volume we publish re- 

 garding horticultural subjects, bearing on their relation to the public schools 

 (Illinois). 



We have undertaken recently the task of improving in some measure the 

 grounds surrounding the rural schools of the state. We have realized for 

 years the deplorable conditions in this respect; the lack of adequate play- 

 grounds; the lack of order and even common cleanliness, the utter lack of 

 any decoration, and other things too numerous to mention. We are feeling 

 our way carefully and so far have but little to report. We have selected 

 seven districts widely separated and for these schools we furnish land- 

 scape plans and trees and shrubs to plant the same. We also furnish 

 expert superintendence and inspection. So far the work has been very dis- 

 couraging on account of the lack of co-operation or even friendly spirit on 

 the part of school officers and teachers. We hope, however, for better 

 things and intend to keep on (Wisconsin). 



The brief account just given of agricultural societies is suffi- 

 cient to indicate at least some of their most important relations to 



