THE WORK OF AN IMPROVEMENT LEAGUE. 51 



and now Ramenecha, the glory of Red Wing, is t>eing cut down for 

 lime stone. 



Village improvement associations also save natural parks* 

 pictured rocks and other natural beauties. A.s to their remedial 

 work. — They have hideous and disfiguring signs removed from 

 buildings, trees and fences. They have in Northfield been aided 

 by the city in keeping the grass cut and the streets cleaned. Three 

 times during the summer, the city has all the grass in the streets 

 cut, and on " cleaning-up day" it has a team go about with a wagon 

 to collect tin cans, old boots, etc., which the owners will take out for 

 removal. They have a river bank committee, which tries to have the 

 unsightly and unsanitary rubbish kept oidf the banks of the very 

 pretty little river. They have park committees, through whose 

 efforts a depot park has been made, where of old were tumble down 

 sheds. It is not yet a very beautiful park, but it has grass and trees 

 started and a fountain, and it will some day be very attractive. One 

 enthusiastic member persuaded a mill owner to remove an old shed 

 sign-depository and has had the ground sodded and has planted a 

 rose bush and vine there, and though it is not much larger than two 

 good sized dining tables, it makes by the mill a pretty spot of what 

 was once an eyesore. One member of the association, when she 

 goes into the country, takes vines which she plants by ruined mills 

 and stone piles or any other available object which could be thus 

 beautified. 



D The children's work is very important. Large colored placards 

 have been printed as follows : (For copy of this, see page 27 of 

 January, 1899, Hortic^ulturist.) 



These placards were put in school rooms, talks were given on the 

 subjects, and the children took great interest in living up to the 

 counsel. Afterwards, the teachers increased the interest by having 

 essays written on "What I have done to carry out improvement 

 principles." 



Of course, the clubs encourage the observance of Arbor Day. 

 They urge every owner of a "lot to sell" to plant trees and shrubs 

 on the lot. No one wants to build a house and wait for years before 

 his lot is attractive. A beautiful tree will say " This lot for sale" to 

 every passer-by, where the wooden notice on a bare lot containing 

 nothing but sandburs will be passed by with only a shiver of repul- 

 sion. 



In some cities, neat iron boxes are placed on street corners for the 

 purpose of holding paper, orange peeling and other similar articles. 

 A combination settee and box is being agitated in some places. 



The improvement society urges people to have too much respect 

 for nature to ever throw picnic papers and egg shells away in the 

 woods or when lunching on grounds in the country. 



The comtnittees of the association are, forestry, street, finance, 

 railroad, humane, prevention of cruelty to children, prevention of 

 cruelty to animals, preservation of natural beauties, children's 

 auxiliary, cemeteries, river banks, membership and sanitation. 



In these days of women's clubs, it must be explained that this 

 is a club for both men and yromen, and the officers are usually men. 



