No. 4.] RURAL BETTERxMENT. 19 



jects as afibrd information to the student as through the study 

 of such matters as only afford mental discipline. Mental 

 development will result from the study of plants and trees 

 that one comes in contact with every day, and the processes 

 of nature by which the elements of the atmosphere and the 

 elements of the soil are combined to produce those plants 

 and trees, as well as from committing to memory the height 

 of the principal peaks of the Rocky Mountains or the names 

 of the rivers of Hindoostan. It is admitted that a boy or 

 girl will be educated while studying the nature and compo- 

 sition of the rocks which are passed every day, or the names 

 and hal)its of the birds that constantly fly over their heads, 

 as well as by the study of the dead languages or the almost 

 meaningless problems of higher mathematics. Life will 

 seem broader and deeper and happier, whatever the occupa- 

 tion or profession followed, by reason of knowing something 

 about the i)lants, trees, rocks, birds and soils with which one 

 is constantly coming in contact, than it would seem if ignorant 

 of these matters, although able to do some of the things once 

 considered necessary for an education. This is an important 

 function of nature studies and of the more intensive course 

 known as principles of agriculture. Instruction in this mat- 

 ter is now included in the normal school training in some of 

 the States, and introduced in the public schools of those 

 States. We do not contemplate in this matter teaching how 

 to grow corn or fruit, but to impart information upon the 

 operations of nature that cause corn and fruit to grow, and 

 the underlying principles which cause a combination of the 

 elements of the atmosphere and of the soil to combine in 

 producing the magnificent forests and bountiful crops. 



HiGirwAY Improvement. 

 It would be ridiculous for a person to come to Massa- 

 chusetts and advocate the advantages of good roads in secur- 

 ing rural betterment, for of all the States Massachusetts 

 stands at the head in liberal expenditure of money on high- 

 ways. There is no valid reason why the public roads of 

 every State should not bo improved in the same ratio as the 

 houses in Avhich the people live, the carriages in which they 

 ride, the buildings in which they educate their children and 



