S90 On teaching Botany in Village Schools. 



Art. V. On the Introduction of Botany into the System of Education 

 in Village Schools. By Y. 



Sir, 



Numerous plans have of late been proposed for the ame- 

 lioration of the laborious classes, but some from their gene- 

 ralisiition affording nothing definite left the subject where, 

 they found it, and others will never be effected except in a 

 state of society widely different from the present. It was, 

 perhaps, to be expected, that in the search after perfection 

 many intermediate improvements would be overlooked ; yet, 

 still, the instruction of the husbandman in the nature of the 

 objects of his future occupation is one of such obvious utility, 

 and so easy of application, that the wonder is that it has 

 not been adopted long ago. 



Botany is a science peculiarly adapted to the country- 

 man ; its objects are continually before his eyes ; they have 

 been the delight of his childhood, and, if he be made ac- 

 quainted with their properties, may become the solace of 

 his age. There is no good reason why the system of Lin- 

 naeus should not be taught in every village school in the 

 kingdom. If it should be asked, where shall we find mas- 

 ters ? I would answer, make botanical knowledge essential, 

 and men duly qualified will soon offer themselves; while 

 the present masters will quickly acquire a system, which 

 only needs perseverance and the share of intelligence usually 

 bestowed on mankind. As to books, short catechisms could 

 easily be framed to teach the classes and orders ; and the 

 meanings of the technical terms might be taught, as those 

 of other words, by means of spelling-books, and with as 

 much facility. Cheap magnifiers might be awarded to the 

 more advanced ; and, on completing their study, a Galpine's 

 Compendium^ or some such work, which would serve them for 

 a dictionary of plants all their days. Only set the system a 

 going, and books good and cheap will soon be found. 



We are told that the Arcadians were the most savage of all 

 the Greeks, till Pan taught them music. We admire the 

 fable, let us profit by the moral. I would not counsel the 

 erection of schools of music over the country, though these 

 may one day be thought as necessary as grammar-schools are . 

 now ; but I would have music indirectly encouraged, by re- 

 warding the school exertions of the children with musical in- 

 struments, the boys with flutes, the girls with flageolets. All 

 have not a musical ear, but many have possessed it, and died 

 in ignorance of the rich gift which nature had bestowed upon 



