236 
STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
all external circumstances, by which it is enabled to completely 
ignore the body, or say to pain, “ Thou art a vrord.” 
The first intellectual advantage, then, claimed as the result 
of the horticultural embellishment of shool-house grounds 
would be through the better physical, by which the superior 
mental condition is secured. 
Second, it advances intellectual culture by furnishing objects 
of interest for examination and study. By a little judicious 
forethought, trees shrubs and flowers transplanted to the 
grounds where children go for repose from in-door tasks, may 
be made more valuable than so many books added to their 
library. For where are the written pages containing all that 
has been left upon the face of nature? Who, by searching, 
can find out and communicate to the mind of a child know¬ 
ledge like that acquired when, with its own aroused intellect 
and eager eyes, it stands in the presence of God, handling His 
works, and “thinking His thoughts after Him?” 
True, not every subject upon which the young student is 
called to labor, may be illustrated, and fiis mental powers in 
reference to that particular mastery assisted, by such natural 
objects as belong to the ornamentation of the school premises; 
but their range is much wider than would at first appear: and 
the freshness and vigor of thought aroused in reference to 
special studies, could but be to the advantage of all. 
‘‘Nature is man’s best teacher. She unfolds 
Her treasures to his search; unseals his eye, 
Illumes his mind, and purifies his heart. 
An influence breathes from all the sights and sounds 
Of her existence; she is wisdom’s self.” 
As a third intellectual advantage, the unconsciousness with 
which the lessons of nature command the mental powers may 
be considered. This is of value to us all, and always; but 
incalculably so to the young in their first efforts to meet the 
stern demands of school discipline. It is the nature of the 
mind to think; not to study upon prescribed subjects, at stated 
times. So the whole system of education is artificial — with 
more or less of violence, the merest device to entrap the body 
