328 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE FARM 



ravines are to be turned into rat-hatcheries by filling them 

 with garbage and rubbish ; when sparkling streams are to be 

 fouled with stinking slops and oils by the slovenliness of 

 some streamside factory ; when public groves are to be cleared 

 without any intelligent supervision, merely to provide work 

 for a public labor-gang in the slack season:- whenever 

 these or any other such things, as are occuring daily all over 

 the land, are about to be committed, it is the duty of the 

 naturalist to speak out in protest. He should endeavor to 

 enlist the enlightened public sentiment of his community, 

 to have the esthetic and educational values of such places 

 considered, ere they are destroyed. They are sure to be under- 

 valued because they have cost the public nothing. In this 

 they are like all true gifts of heaven. 



In city communities, there are Audubon societies, and 

 wildflower preservation societies, and civic improvement 

 societies, and conservation societies, etc., that include in 

 their membership the best brains and culture of the place; 

 and the aid of such organizations is easily enlisted in such a 

 cause. In any community there are those that love the beauty 

 and freshness of unspoiled nature, and who will gladly use 

 their influence toward saving something for future enjoy- 

 ment. The first thing to be done is to see that those admin- 

 istering the public works in question are informed of the 

 value of the wild things about to be destroyed. Often, it 

 is necessary that they be informed of the very existence of 

 such things. Next there is need of eternal vigilance. 



Improving waste places. When necessary public works, 

 however destructive of natural scenery, have been completed, 

 then a little careful forethought for the use of the things 

 nature freely offers, will make the place beautiful again. 

 The naturalist should assist in planning their betterment. 

 He of all people, should know what things are most available, 

 and best suited to every use and situation. 



