CHAPTER XXV. 



Planning and Adorning the Farmstead and School Grounds. 



'The tree planter and teacher united in one shall be declared the best 

 benefactor of modern times, the chief provider for posterity." 



J. STERLING MORTON, 

 Founder of Arbor Day. 



The School Garden. 



After animals, plants are the objects of greatest interest to 

 children in nature study. The average school environments make 

 it possible to study plants to greater advantage than animals. 



The facilities and conveniences for the study of plants are 

 within reach of nearly all schools. The necessary requirements 

 can be easily secured, in most instances, without very great 

 expense. 



The increasing interest in agricultural education is making 

 the study of plants a matter of growing importance, and the de- 

 mand is becoming urgent for definite and practical plans for the 

 establishment of school gardens. 



In rural communities where there are no consolidated or cen- 

 tralized schools, it is advisable to encourage the work of making 

 experiments or tests in plats on the home farm. 



In the city, village or in the rural community where there is 

 a high school or a consolidated school with sufficient space for 

 lawns, playgrounds, and gardens, there should be a plan for grow- 

 ing shrubs, trees, vines and flowers, in an artistic manner. This 

 should be done in such a way that it will serve a useful purpose 

 in instruction. The school grounds should be an object of 

 beauty, study and inspiration. The following points should be 

 observed : 



1. The primary object of the school is instruction. 



2. The work of adorning should be planned and carried out with the 

 two-fold purpose of securing beauty and utility. Trees and shrubbery 

 attract birds and insects and facilitate the study of economic zoology. 



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