Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-06-06
Horticulture in the Public Schools.

Horticulture In the Public schools.
Writing ON the above subject. Pro-
fessor j. l.. Budd. of the Iowa Agri-
cultural College writes 20 the Farm,
Fteld md StDchBm as follows:
Ina the summer Of 1862 ! had a fine
opportunity for observing the working
OF this system in Austria and Prussia
Every school-yard had its flower beds
and its specimens Of neatly trained
fruit trees, ornamental trees and
shrubs. And q majority of them had
the little nursery where the students
were given object lessons in budding,
grating, and even marching. In the
way Of marching very many of the
schoOl-yards had a cherry tree with
q very low-trained head. Each Spring
the students had a little holiday for
gathering specimen seedlings of the
native wild cherry from the hedge row
or the hills. These were planted by
the students, under the direction of
the teacher, in circle on the boundary
OF the outer limbs of the cherry tree.
At the proper season for marching,
students are detailed in the presence
Of the class, 10 bend down twigs of the
overhaugug cherry and march them
on the stems Of the plants below, and
70 properly cover the wounds. At the
proper time the class is again assem-
blcd To cut the connections with the
parent tree and to remove the plants
to the little nursery, TO make room for
another crop. In the lessons the ele-
mentary principles, and the modes and
methods, are given for all the simpler
operations of the fruit, vegetable and
flower garden. 70 those lacking ex-
pcrience all this might seem n great
hindranco to advancement in the or
binary school studies. But those who
have some experience in teaching these
elementary principles in the Kinder
garten schools aud in our agricultural
colleges, know that such variations are
aids rather than hlndrances TO general
advancement.
1t has been said that our Yankee
school children would destroy the How
en- beds and climb the young trees and
shrubs.
With twelve years experience, with
from two to three hundred students
among the flower beds, the shruhbcry
plantations, the small fruit plantations,
and the orchards, ! have never as yet
known of any of this American ten
dency To vandalism where the students
were taught the uses of such things,
aud that "tue value Of all horticultural
operations was as the thought put in
them.
AT the great Horticultural College
i'm North Silesia | met over one hum
dred of the public school teachers who
were taking lessons with n view TO
more perfect fitness for their work,
and was assured that the students
took too much interest in their pet
flowers, shrubs, trees, etc, TO injure
them.
In this country our few Kindergar-
ten tenchers viii, | think, give the
same assurances
AT our Iowa institutes the question
has been asked, ''Ilow shall we man
age to keep our boys and girls on the
farm?"
My experience leads to the belief
that they should be interested at school
and al home in the reasons for all the
modes and methods which tend to make
home beautiful and pleasant The
boy who acts rs a machine at school,
aud i'm his home dutios, will naturally
be attracted by the sights, hustle and
activity of the mining camp or the
city