At Weimar, Germany, there is a garden industrial school, the object of which is to instruct school children, from their eighth to their fourteenth year, in their hours out of school, in gardening and in kindred industry; and alsoto fit young men who have left school, for practical gardening, an employment which is in great demand in that country. This school was established in 1853, partly from the proceeds of charitable meetings and partly from church offerings. A piece of land was purchased near the city, and devoted to this purpose, under the charge of a board of administration, with a director at the head. Three members of the board control the departments of trees, vegetables and flowers; another member has charge of the accounts and the funds, and one has supervision of the property and of the sale of the productions. The director and the committee serve without salary, and with no returns except for actual expenses. At the head of the practical working of the institution there is a superintendent, who is both skilled in all garden industry and in the art of teaching. He has a salary, a house free, and a share of the profits of the garden.

Under him there are three master gardeners, or overseers, who have severally charge of the nurseries, the vegetable garden and the winter work. The last of these is an experienced carpenter, who has care of the planing and carving benches, the repair of the garden tools, and the oversight of the chamber furniture. Additional help is given by pupils who have been trained in the institution, and who, after their confirmation, learn gardening as their future occupation. These have to go through a three years course in the institution without paying any fees. After a certain time of probation they receive a compensation, which increases according to the capacity shown, in the second and third years. The oldest boys have charge of the flowers, the watering and the pot plants, and from four to eight boys are in this department, while the younger boys have their regular and appropriate tasks. Every day the superintendent seta for them and the overseers the work which is required by the season of the year.

Their winter work is of various kinds, from basket making to straw braiding and envelope folding, and they sing a merry song as they work, or a story is told, or one of the older boys reads from a pleasant book. This school is supported by free gifts, and by the proceeds of the sale of the produce. One source of income is from the sale of nosegays, which are delivered every week, and paid for at a monthly rate. Such an institution has never found existence in America. Who can predict its success if it were tried?