state: pomological society. 63 



say about them, compared with visiting them in their own homes 

 and talking with them. 



Nature Studies are one of the best means to teach children to 

 be observant and to study and investigate small things which 

 would not be noticed by ordinary people. 



They also teach patience, gentleness, perseverance, art, love 

 and reverence. 



Of course it would be impossible to teach any child all of the 

 varieties of birds, flowers, insects, stones and trees, to be found 

 even in their own locality. 



But it is possible to awaken an interest in these things, teach 

 him a few fundamental principles, and furnish him with means 

 to continue his studies jilone. 



In some of the European countries they have established 

 ''School Gardens.'' These are often quite large gardens where 

 the scholars each have a plot of ground and do the work of 

 practical gardening, and take the different branches of Nature 

 Study. As long ago as 1880, Sweden had over 2,000 of such 

 School Gardens. The Swedish emigrants to this country are 

 more sought after as gardeners and farm laborers than any other 

 class, and the reason is supposed to be their efficiency and habits 

 formed in childhood at these gardens. Austria and France also 

 have many such schools, and they are fast gaining in reputation 

 in other countries. 



The United States seemiS to be considering the needs of such 

 schools, as they have recently had the consuls in all those coun- 

 tries send a report of these schools to Washington, which have 

 been printed in a very interesting, illustrated report. The State 

 Board of Agriculture of Massachusetts has also begun the pub- 

 lication of Nature Leaflets, which will certainly accomplish much 

 good, if distributed in the right places. I have also heard, on 

 good authority, that a similar work will be taken up in Maine. 

 The long vacations of our country schools which often seem 

 half wasted have so impressed me, that about a year ago, I began 

 a little work among the children of our district that I think could 

 be successfully carried on in many other country neighborhoods. 

 During the long winter vacation, I had the children meet at 

 my home once a week, then after school began, the teacher gave 

 me an hour of the school time occasionally. During the winter 

 we studied from seeds, trees, leaves, mounted birds, butterflies, 



