PREFACE. 



also the real life for their subject an active profession 

 has made him specially acquainted with many peoples 

 and countries, and had tempted him, in some sort, to 

 speak with authority. 



In Germany and other places, the author, on account 

 of this work, has often been greeted as a hopeful pupil 

 of Froebel, and passes for one still by most people. I 

 have often related that I came naturally, as it were, by 

 my idea of the school garden, and have freely confessed 

 that five years ago I knew little of Froebel. Since that 

 time I have certainly been much interested in him who, 

 before my time, had wished for a school garden ; but 

 before me no one had had the good fortune to make a 

 propaganda for his plans with any result j then were 

 there any school gardens outside of German ground ? 



The " Public School Gardens " of the author under- 

 takes to give the outlines according to which country 

 and city school gardens should be laid out. According 

 to the judgment of school-men, naturalists and men of 

 practical life, not an idea in this pamphlet should be 

 neglected which can be brought to life by the school 

 garden. 



WHAT IS NECESSARY, AND WHO FAVOR IT. 



It 'is very striking that the school garden, as it is called 

 to-day, repeatedly emphasizes the fact that not all the 

 plans are everywhere practicable ; that the necessary 

 and suitable ones are chosen with tact and understand- 

 ing ; but as to the rest, especially where there is no 

 money to be had for the purpose, it must be given up. 



According to the advice of the inspector of the court 

 garden, Jager, in Eisenach, from whom I have learned 

 much, it is best that the garden land (grabe land) be 



