REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON SCHOOL GARDENS, ETC. 339 



Among the ferus exhibited were two new species from New 

 England, Asjndium cristatum marginale Davenport, and Aspid- 

 ium simidatuni Davenport, described and named by Mr. George 

 E. Davenport of this Committee. 



Arthur E. French's collection of ferus was a fine one. The 

 fronds were complete, even, well arranged, and correctly named. 

 Such a collection gives proof of knowledge of the plants, and of 

 the work necessary for their preparation. It pays children to do it. 



The growth of the work cannot escape the notice of any 

 observer. Both halls were completely occupied. The number of 

 specimens has risen from 1,100 last year, to 2,000 this year. The 

 range of contributors is increasing, Billerica, North Easton,. Sud- 

 bmy, and Holyoke, in this State, and New Haven, Conn., having 

 been laid under contribution. 



The children cling to the work year after year. Arthur C. 

 Faxon contributed this year for the third time. Phillips Barry 

 also contributed this year for the third time, and his contribution 

 was accompanied by the following label: "List of twenty-five 

 additions of Flowering Plants to a collection awarded a First 

 Prize December 26, 1891, to which fifty additions were made in 

 1893." 



Five other children contributed this year for the second time. 

 The rule that specimens once exhibited for prizes cannot be 

 exhibited again, although a proper one, makes it harder and 

 harder for the contributors to find new specimens to exhibit, and, 

 although they do not contribute a third, or even a second time, 

 we cannot reasonably conclude that they have discontinued work, 

 or have lost their interest in it. 



It does seem reasonable to conclude that the work carried on 

 under the auspices of this Society is doing more to create among 

 children a love for wild flowers, and plant life in general, than that 

 done by any other institution in the State. 



However that may be, we have a reasonable assurance that in 

 the course of time, by means of this work, many people will have — 

 what the public schools do not aim to teach — a delightful, innocent, 

 and elevating recreation to which they can turn for recuperation 

 and refreshment during the leisure hours from their regular voca- 

 xtions, and also after those vocations have been laid aside in the later 

 years of life. One important aim of education should be, to teach 

 the young to make wise provision for the leisure part of life, 



