AUTHOR'S PREFACE. 



In the autumn of 1866, the citizens of Olmutz began 

 to lay out a large park on a plan which I had pointed 

 out to the Stadtvcrordereten-Collcgium, as a compensa- 

 tion for the destruction of the public walks by the war. 

 The lively public interest shown in the movement 

 awakened in me, then a member of the Committee for 

 City Improvements, the desire to plant trees and culti- 

 vate flowers, and the endeavor to lead others to share 

 in that pleasure. It called out in me many trains of 

 thought, which, according to one of my nature, were 

 destined sooner or later to become acts. 



In the year 1870, I was appointed inspector of the 

 German public schools in the Circle of Olmutz. The 

 excellent new school-law of 1869 decreed that with 

 every country school should be connected an experi- 

 mental garden, which in another part of the law was 

 called an experimental field (Versuchsfeld). This word 

 was such an unlucky one, so general and yet so narrow, 

 and therefore vague, that a full year passed after the ap- 

 pearance of the law before it was understood or carried 

 into operation. Although an idealist through and through, 

 I was used to results in life, and it delighted me to set at 

 work my little modicum of organizing talent. Two points 



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