8 



THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



mentioned a fruiting banana, the date palm, vanilla bean, 

 ginger, coffee, panama hat plant, mahogany, tapioca, rubber 

 plant, sisal hemp, weevil plant, allspice, cinnamon, southern 

 moss and sensitive plant. In addition to these a few orchids 

 and other epiphytes, a number of cactuses and other succulents, 

 palms, and ordinary bedding plants are grown. A conservatory 

 should be as much a necessity as any other department in all 

 schools if for no other reason than to enable the students to 

 become familiar with a few of the wonders of the vegetable 

 kingdom. How interesting, and profitable, would the student 

 find a good representative collection of economic plants. 



Adjoining the plant house on the rear is the school garden. 

 It contains about an acre and a half, and, in connection with 

 the plant house is productive of many profitable hours. Indi- 

 vidual beds are given to a number of the older pupils, some are 

 used by classes, and others are reserved for experiments with 

 field crops. The school garden, as in all gardens of a similar 

 nature, is used entirely as the out-of-door laboratory. The 

 smallest child wants to work ''in the chrt," the larger one wants 

 to learn what can be gotten out of it. The work in the school 

 garden has its influence on the home as may be exemplified on 

 almost any holiday when the numerous parents are brought 

 by the children to "help pick the corn," '''pull radishes," or 

 otherwise to lend a hand. 



Is such an environment worth while? Is it better than 

 barren playgrounds without any embellishment whatever? 

 What must be the thought which comes tO' the student upon 

 entering such a place? Will he not remember when he leaves 

 school and carry away impressions which will be effective later 

 on ? We know he will. 



