state pomological society. 95 



Mrs. DeCoster : 



Q. I would like to ask a question of the Protessor, if he has 

 in mind any appropriate text-book that he would advise, even 

 before this matter is presented in a way to the public schools, 

 that he would advise for the use of children at home. This sub- 

 ject has deeply interested me, and there was a move made and 

 text-books were printed for that purpose and a partial law, I 

 believe, requiring examination of teachers along that line, but 

 it has become a dead letter law and the book was never generally 

 introduced — it was called the Principles of Agriculture, written 

 by a professor in this State — but I never knew of it being used 

 in any of the public schools. 



Mr. Powell: 



No, I am unable to mention offhand any single book for 

 teachers that covers the whole field of Nature study. There have 

 been a large number of Nature study books written within a few 

 years, many good, others very bad. I might mention a few 

 books that are excellent for their purpose. 



Lessons with Plants, by L. H. Bailey. McMillan & Co., New 

 York. 



First Studies in Plant Life, by G. F. Atkinson. Ginn & Co., 

 Boston. 



Insect Life, by J. H. Comstock. D. Appleton Co., New York. 



The Principles of Agriculture by L. H. Bailey. McMillan 

 Co., New York. 



Nature Studies, by Mrs. Wilson. McMillian Co., New York. 



The best nature study publications I have seen are the leaflets 

 issued by Cornell University, and they are valuable because they 

 are full of the nature study spirit and the teacher is sure to catch 

 some of the inspiration that pervades them. These are sent at a 

 small cost to teachers out of the state. 



I would say as a general principal, and most emphatically, keep 

 the books out of the school room. Teach from nature, not from 

 books. The minute nature study is taught from a text-book, 

 nature flies out of the window and the children learn by heart. 

 The value of nature study is lost when it becomes mechanical. 

 The spirit of out door life must be caught if nature study is to 

 help out door life and make it more livable. 



