CHAPTER II. 



THE SCHOOL GARDEN A PART OF THE SCIENCE OF HOME 

 AND NATURE. 



No one who knows the world and men will fail to see 

 that these incitements which are destined to determine 

 the activity of men for their whole lifetime, are the most 

 effectual for individuals as well as for the whole race, 

 if they are brought to bear upon the naive, freshly re- 

 ceptive age of from six to fourteen years. The under- 

 standing seizes them in play, the fancy receives them 

 gladly as material and nourishment for future activity ; 

 enjoyment soon lays the foundation for persistent pur- 

 suit and love of them, and for future salutary use of them. 

 The lasting influence of such youthful impressions re- 

 ceived under judicious guidance and in the right way, 

 is incalculable. 



No intelligent man would make an agricultural school 

 out of the village school, and thereby deprive the public 

 school of its peculiar character ; but is it rare for men 

 to feel that they have not estimated highly enough the 

 incentives received in early youth for industrial and 

 technical activity ? In love of art and science, and 

 all the means of acquiring a reasonable degree of the 



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