1892.] ESSAYS. 119 



manner, and the travelling public are certainly enjoying the 

 grand inaprovement. 

 In the matter of — 



School-house Grounds 



a few suggestions may be offered as it comes within the province 

 of the question under consideration. 



The suggestions made for Arl)or Day ol)servance, already 

 alluded to, while intended more especially for the towns in the 

 State where Granges were organized, found no heartier support 

 than in our own city. It was very gratifying to me to be 

 invited to address a meeting of the school teachers upon this 

 subject, giving hints and suggestions that might aid them in 

 their work. It was still more pleasing to note the interest taken 

 by so many of the teachers and scholars, in the initiative work 

 of planting the shade-trees, vines and shrubs within so many of 

 the school-yard enclosures in this city. 



The predictions of those who doubted the expediency of such 

 an undertaking, and predicted the certain demolition of every 

 vestage of plant-life the first season have not proved true, but 

 on the other hand, those trees and shrubs that the pupils had 

 planted with their own hands, or had secured by their own 

 efforts either by purchase, solicitation or contribution, were 

 guarded with a care and interest that has been most commenda- 

 ble. The class-tree that adorns the grounds of nearly every one 

 of our college and other institutions of learning, some that have 

 stood for half a century or more, are held in sacred veneration 

 by the graduates of those institutions ever afterwards. 



Who shall say that the boys and girls of the primary and 

 intermediate schools who have aided in the planting of their 

 class-trees will not ever after, cherish pleasant recollections of 

 this chapter of their school-day life, and also that these early 

 impressions will lead to higher appreciation of the value of trees 

 for shade or shelter and closer acquaintance with the numberless 

 varieties of plants, shrubs, vines, or flowers, that are adding so 

 much to the pleasure and comfort of mankind, whether planted 

 in garden or park, or growing in their natural wilduess and 

 beauty on roadside, or in woodland or forest. 



