Pennsylvania School of Horticulture for Women - Wise Acres Yearbook (Ambler, PA)

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pursuit of culture, and in England the development of the will, but the new interpretation of the word is the development of the man or woman. During President Lincoln’s administration a measure was passed granting money to the States to establish colleges in agriculture and the mechanical arts. Under its provisions every State has set up such a school and sixteen of the Southern States have established two such colleges each. It is to these schools that the Page-Nelson Bill grants money for the training of teachers, and the teaching of extension work offers opportunity to the youth of our country, but young women are not encouraged to take it up, and in many places no provisions are made for them at all. The problem of woman's work is discussed at times as if it had not appeared until the last generation, but ages ago women did manufacturing and similar work in their homes. The Hebrew ideal of a virtuous woman includes such work, and according to the ancient record, the honored Hebrew matron was a manufacturer, a planter and a merchant. Such were the duties of our women a hundred years ago, but now most of this work has been transferred to the factories, where a great part of it is still done by women. Economic causes are forcing women into industry, and in the future, instead of fewer we shall find more women in occupations other than homekeeping. Many of the schools for the vocational training of girls are under private management, having been established by those who have recognized the modern tendency of women to become wage earners. Vocational training and wage earning are so closely allied that one can scarcely think of the former except in relation to the latter. If more girls can be given some vocational training the number of unskilled workers will decrease. This will enable the women workers to demand and receive higher wages and will be a distinct benefit to the community at large. But such training is good, not only for the poor girl and the girl of moderate means, but every girl, irrespective of her financial condition. It gives her a more healthful outlook on life and broadens her views, by bringing her into contact with those less fortunate than herself. What is a more pathetic sight than to see a middle-aged woman wholly unfitted to support herself, thrown upon her own resources! If women are trained to take hold of life with a firm grip at some particular point, success or failure rests with their several characters and abilities. E. B.

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WISE-ACRES JESSIE T. MORGAN. Director of School Vol. i. June, 1914. No. 2. Subscription. $1.00 a Year. Single Copies, 35 cents. Edited by the Students of the School of Horticulture for Women, at Ambler, Pennsylvania. Application has been made for the admission of this publication to the second class of mail matter at the Ambler Postofficc. PUBLISHED QUARTERLY STAFF Edilor-in - Chief, Emily ExlBY. Associate Editor, Frances Gardiner. Business Manager, Sara Deming. Art Editor, Frances Shinn. Secretary, Caroline G. Peeler. Advertising Editor, Eleanor Lawrence. EDITORIAL There seems to be nothing materially wrong with our present educational systems, so far as they apply to those able to take advantage of the excellent opportunities afforded by the extensive and varied courses of our colleges and universities. Many of our high schools are also equipping for successful careers earnest boys and girls who have not the opportunity for higher education. But let us ask ourselves here, what is the real value of our educational system and what proportion of our boys and girls have the opportunity for a college training, or even a high school education? Statistics show that of those of school age only 1.71% secure college educations; 5.35% take the high school work, and less than half of the rest reach the eighth grade in the elementary schools. By the present system the students in our elementary and high schools, and to a large extent in our colleges, are required to take largely abstract work, particularly that of a literary character; most of this does little toward preparing the student directly for the work of life, and results in a numerous aftermath of failures and non-valeurs. Vocational training gives the student opportunity to ascertain his fitness for the vocation he looks toward following, or helps him to find for what line of work he is best suited. The education of the hand is one of the best ways of educating the mind, and helps greatly in creating an attitude of interest toward their life work. In Germany the predominant characteristic of education has been the love of learning for its own sake; in France, it has been the

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PROTECTION AGAINST PLANT PESTS Fifty delegates visited Rome, Italy, in March, representing thirty-five nations, to discuss the subject of insects and fungous pests. This is the first effort ever made to bring about co-operation between the nations in combating these troubles. The Conference voted to ask each of the countries represented to do three things; first, to support an institute for studying plant pests; second, efficient supervision of nurseries, including the packing and dispatching of plants; third, to require that only such plants be exported as arc accompanied by an official certificate, showing they are free from insects and fungi, and to admit only those certified to. The scheme is admirable in every way and should do much to prevent spreading of such pests. The proposed certificates should also go a little further and guarantee that each plant is true to name. Indians in Wayne Springs Agency, Crook County, Washington, are taking a keen and practical interest in agricultural development and much is being done to help them to a better understanding of all farm work. More than seventy Indians attended the meetings of the first Farmers’ Institute, conducted for the redskins in this territory, practical agriculturists lecturing on farming, orcharding and gardening. March the 14th the final steps were taken to complete the organization of the International Garden Club, which is modeled after the Royal Horticultural Society of Great Britain, and it is intended to become to professional and amateur gardeners in this country what the British Society is to its members. The idea of the club met with great enthusiasm by leading horticulturists, and it has been suggested to take Bartow House and grounds in Pelham, Bay Park, just outside of New York, for a club house. The grounds will be made into experimental gardens, lectures and exhibits will be given in the club house. Dr. Nicholas Murray Butler, president of Columbia, is honorary president of the club; Mrs. Charles F. Hoffman, president. Extract from letter of N. B. Critchfield, Secretary of Agriculture of Penn: sylvania: “Horticulture has not in the past received the attention that its importance merits. I have full faith in the results of your work at Ambler; first, because of its importance, and. secondly, because of my confidence in the earnestness and ability of those engaged in it.” The subject of vocational training is one that has recently been receiving a great deal of attention and thought. A few years ago a woman college graduate was supposed to be “prepared for life” merely by the fact that she was in the possession of a diploma; somehow people thought that by that fact alone she was fitted to enter practically any business pursuit. It was hardly noticed that almost invariably the girl graduate drifted into teaching, and that many of these teachers were mediocre or really inefficint, for, contrary notwithstand-