REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON SCHOOL GARDENS, ETC. 309 



Already the teachers of the school in their work with leaves 

 have often had the privilege of examining the collection. 



At the close of our last exhibition Phillips Barry presented to 

 the George Putnam school eighty-seven exhibition specimens of 

 flowering plants and ferns. These will form an important addition 

 to the working material of the school. 



Miss Ann E. Newell of South Boston, has presented to the same 

 school some pressed specimens of rare ferns from the island of 

 St. Helena. The gift was suggested by her seeing our exhibition. 



Even in these young botanists we can discern the spirit of the 

 scientist. No sooner does he learn the secrets of nature than he 

 desires to share his knowledge with others. So he gives his time 

 and material. Some of these young people may become emi- 

 nent in the future, and we hope this Society may have occasion 

 to refer with pride to the steady encouragement it gave them at the 

 beginning of their botanical work. 



The encouragement given to the exhibition in the form of 

 appreciative and generous notices by the representatives of the 

 daily newspapers is well worth mentioning. Undoubtedly the 

 excellent attendance on the second day was largely owing to those 

 notices. 



This year premiums for school herbariums are offered. A few 

 pupils in many schools will be able to contribute specimens for 

 their own schools and the aggregate will be large. If an herba- 

 rium, with plants properly identified and labelled by the aid of 

 our Committee, can be thus formed in each of many schools, 

 teachers and pupils alike will be stimulated to carry out the work 

 contemplated by the Committee, and at the same time have one of 

 the most practicable means of continuing the work from year to 

 year, although the teaching corps may change yearly. An 

 attractive and permanent herbarium will be like a sheet anchor to 

 hold the plant work to its true course. 



