182 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



those of other towns arouud. Some children can learn four times 

 as fast as others, but by the present sj^stem they all have to be 

 laid on the same iron bedsteads. Mr. Terry rather liked the idea 

 of school gardens, but felt some fear that if that plan were intro- 

 duced the children would not be allowed generally to take re- 

 sponsibility in the cultivation therein — that the janitor would cul- 

 tivate and the children look on. To make the school garden a 

 success the children must have a place where they can put into 

 practice what they are taught about cultivation, and thus get prac- 

 tical knowledge as the essayist had indicated. The speaker 

 remembered that he had a taste for plant culture, when a boy ; that 

 an idea of utility was connected with his cultivation of his crop and 

 that the latter was a fine bed of saffron. He remembered also, that 

 when he marketed the flowers the apothecary cheated him. But 

 there is beauty and utilitj' in cultivating the plants that grow nat- 

 urall}- around us. There is beauty in a field of potatoes — in a bed 

 of sage — beauty and music in a field of growing corn. Multi- 

 tudes went to see that prize field of corn in South Carolina. That 

 was a grand illustration of beaut}' and utility' combined, and it is 

 clear that we must have this combination taught even in the school 

 garden instruction. 



" A thing of beauty is a joy forever ; 

 Its loveliness increases ; it will never 

 Pass into nothingness ; but still will keep 

 A bower quiet for us, and a sleep 

 Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing." 



The culture of beauty in the vegetable kingdom secures a crop 

 of joy to the thoughtful culturist, and not that alone — it is a great 

 promoter of health. There is with it no dyspepsia, no insomnia 

 when one has been thus busied in the open air. Think of the 

 wholesome effect on discontented mechanics if the}' could go home 

 and work an hour in the garden, instead of passing their leisure 

 hours in fretting and grumbling. 



Dr. C. C. Rounds, Principal of the State Normal School at 

 Plymouth, N. H., being present, was called upon, and responded 

 by giving a synoptical account of the present school S3'Stem of 

 France. Under commission from the Governor of New Hamp- 

 shire, he attended the International Exposition at Paris, France, 

 and while there, in connection with his official duties he made a 

 study of the French system of education. At the Exposition, 



