96 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



The decoration of our school grounds need not be burdensome, 

 in the way of labor or expense. Once create the taste, and it will 

 be done as easily as the flag was procured. The children and 

 teachers must be made the special guardians of every tree and 

 plant. Our own native trees and flowers form the most beau if ul 

 setting for our rural schoolhouses. What more beautiful floral 

 ornaments than our native ferns? We may not be able to sing : 



"A rare olcl. plaut is onr ivy sjreen 

 Creeping where uo life is seen." 



The ivy is very Englishy. Though flourishing well in Canada, it 

 does not thrive in our climate ; but we may well sing of the beauty 

 of our native Virginia creeper, or, as it is commonly known, the 

 woodbine. Our native Clematis is another trailing plant well 

 adapted to ornamental purposes. Both of these plants take kindly 

 to cultivation, and in a few years transform ugly, uninviting places 

 into marvels of beauty. 



A well located, a well kept, small country schoolhouse,.with its 

 ornamentation of lawns, trees and flowers, is more than poetry, 

 more than painting. An encouraging sign of the times is the 

 interest shown in the appearance of railroad stations. The Maine 

 Central has done ranch to beautif}' its stations and ground, making 

 them desirable waiting places for travellers and ornamental where- 

 ever located. 1 wrote the General Manager, Payson Tucker, ask- 

 ing him to give me a brief outline of his system. In reply, he 

 says, "We have adopted a style of architecture for our station 

 buildings which is uniformly used. We have also a standard set 

 of colors to be used in painting them. We expect our employes to 

 keep our property in a neat and attractive condition, and I am 

 happy to say that they heartily co-oi)erate with us and do all in 

 their power to put and keep our property in good shape." 



There is, I believe, a pleasant rivalry among the station agents. 

 The road furuis^hing the trees, shrubs and flowers and offering a 

 prize for the most pleasing effect produced. Such a system of or- 

 namentation for our rural school grounds might be made effective 

 either by the town or some society interested. Among the most 

 beautiful of all the exhibits at the World's Fair was that of Horti- 

 cultural Ilall. One could but feel that he would like to eat his way 

 through the pomological display and then wander at leisure amidst 

 acres of flowers. The flowers, what pen can describe them. One 

 Azalia in the French department, yaids in circumference, with its 



