176 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



practical. What is the opinion of agriculturists on that matter? 

 Are not potatoes and wheat practical things? Is there anj^thing 

 theoretical about the potato bug and the currant worm? Any- 

 thing psychological about loam and phosphate? Anything 

 allegorical about the codling moth and the peach tree borer? 



The remedy for this state of affairs lies in placing the right 

 kind of men upon school committees, who influence legislation and 

 education, and agriculturists should be represented on school 

 boards as well as the law^'er, the doctor, the clergyman, and the 

 tradesman. 



This Society should secure as members teachers who are known 

 to have an interest in subjects closely related to horticulture. If 

 a teacher can graft trees, or raise fruit or vegetables successfully, 

 or makes a speciality of bulbs, orchids, ferns, or wild flowers, or is 

 a good botanist, he may be especially valuable to the Society, 

 which, with its learned members and exceptionally fine librar}', 

 may be as valuable to him. He would be likely to appreciate the 

 value of school gardens in the education of children ; he could 

 choose and adapt material wisely ; and, above all, he would have 

 the point of vantage to influence members of the school commit- 

 tee towards the legislation desired for the establishment of school 

 gardens. 



Closely connected with the subject of school gardens, is a line 

 of work that has been carried on very successfully for man}' j'ears, 

 b}' a few members of this Societ}', but has not received that full 

 recognition as a valuable means of instruction to which it is 

 entitled. I refer to the work done by Mrs. Richards, Mr. Hitch- 

 ings, and others, in bringing collections of native plants to the 

 exhibitions of this Society. If we are to estimate this work at its 

 real value, in promoting the highest interests of education, we 

 must come to the conclusion that these people who do it, do not 

 receive a reward commensurate with the usefulness of their 

 labors. 



The collections of native plants are especially' interesting and 

 instructive to teachers. They influenced me more than anything 

 else here to become a member of this Society, and they ought to 

 be studied by a hundred teachers, where they are now studied by 

 one. Let us establish school gardens, and they will be so studied. 



Mr. W. W. Rawson in his seed catalogue says : " The Massa- 

 chusetts Horticultural Society of Boston — the most flourishing 



