STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 99- 



fords, yet it is pleasant to know some have not overlooked them.- 

 Especially happ}' are the children of those families where father and 

 mother or older brothers and sisters have taught them to open their e3'es 

 and behold the wonderful and beautiful things all about them. Chil- 

 dren are apt pupils in such things and only need a trifle of encourage- 

 ment and guidance to do very good work as amateur naturalists. L 

 knew a little miss who, long before she could speak distinctly, could 

 tell the names of a goodly number of minerals. A little boy in this 

 town with slight assistance from a judicious mother had made and 

 classified quite a collection of native plants when he was onlj^ five or. 

 six years of age. I do not believe that boy or that girl when they, 

 grow up will desjnse a farm. It ma}^ be that all parents are not so 

 well prepared to aid their little ones in these researches as those I. 

 have in mind, but all can, at least, give courteous answers and not 

 chill the ardor of young minds seeking after knowledge. Some- 

 times, I am sorry to sa}', parents not knowing how to answer the 

 question directly give instead an impatient reply like "don't bother" 

 or some other phrase intended to check further inquiry. Children, 

 thus brought up can hardly be expected to take an interest in the 

 old farm. Sooner or later they will be seeking for entertainment and. 

 pleasure in some more genial atmosphere. 



Lastl}' comes the question. What can natural sciences do to make 

 farm life more satisfactory in a social way? I would answer, much 

 in various respects. A few of these have been already referred to. 



As companionship lends an indescribable charm to study, so, re- 

 ciprocally, study gives to companionship some of its sweetest joys. 

 A grange or farmers' club whose members are studying the natural 

 sciences will find their organization not only more profitable but far 

 more enjoyable also. And since the grange recognizes the princi- 

 ple of equal rights, the sisters, ever active in preparing good things 

 for the palate, will not be debarred from partaking this rich and 

 wholesome mental food. Securing a competent instructor to give a 

 course of lectures in the winter season would be a wise expenditure, 

 and, as in the matter of books, the outlay falling on so many would, 

 not be burdensome. 



The pleasures of the neighborhood can be greatly increased by the 

 spread of interest in study. Diamonds cut diamonds, and minds 

 having some store of information cause each other to give out their 

 best thoughts, putting to flight petty jealousies, heart burnings and 

 idle gossip. Might not Q.ny community be better by the change ?- 



