" The author knows by experience, both on the farm and 

 in the schoolroom, that the possession of a better knowl- 

 edge of nature by country youths is one of the crying needs 

 of the hour. With such a knowledge generally diffused 

 there would be less dissatisfaction with country life and 

 fewer farmers' sons and daughters would flock to the 

 cities, because, as a recent writer expresses it, " they wish 

 to get rid of the prosy, stunting, isolated life on the farm." 

 With a knowledge of some of nature's objects and a desire 

 to ferret out for themselves some of her secrets, they would 

 have something of which to talk and think besides crops, 

 stock, work, neighborhood gossip and local politics, and 

 the attractions of the city would seldom excel those to 

 be found on the old homestead."— W. S. Blatchley, in 

 " Gleanings from Nature." 



" It seems as if the day was not wholly profane in which 

 we have given heed to some natural object ... He who 

 knows the most, he who knows what sweets and virtues 

 are in the ground, the waters, the plants, the heavens, and 

 how to come at these enchantments, is the rich and royal 

 man. "—Emerson. 



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