The human organism becomes so delicate that doctors consider this time (adolescence) "to be comparable to the period of birth and rapid growth in the first years thereafter.’’

The comparative was certainly not made to highlight physiological realities as much as it is to make imperative the level of attention and concern given the newborn be also afforded the adolescent.

We hear the physician in Montessori as dispensing prescription for a healthy environment for the young man.

“Special attention must be given to the diet. A non-toxic food rich in vitamins and sugar is suitable for this age.”

“Homegrown vegetables and fruit that have thoroughly ripened on the tree are treasures that can be had only by those who live in the country.”

“Life in the open air and sunshine, bathing and swimming, must be made use of to the greatest possible extent, as in a sanatorium…“For the time when the body is underdeveloped, it is better to live in flat country where long walks may be taken.”

Evidently, all of the above are feasible only in a countryside style of living. And that is what the farm setting is about.