Qivie jmprovementt 



A DEPARTMENT DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF THE HORTICULTURAL 

 SOCIETIES OF ONTARIO, AND OF ALL OTHER BODIES INTERESTED 

 IN THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE SURROUNDINGS OF OUR 

 CANADIAN TOWN AND COUNTRY HOMES. 



HOW EVERY CITIZEN CAN IMPROVE HIS NATIVE TOWN. 



DR. Fletcher's address before the Renfrew horticultural society. 



DR. FLETCHER began by a refer- 

 ence to and commendation of the 

 good points in the town noted on 

 the letter paper on which he had been com- 

 municated with; and from this stated the 

 broad difference which was apparent be- 

 tween the border towns of Canada and the 

 States ; the comparison not being favorable 

 to the Canadian towns. The Americans 

 blew their own horn a great deal more loud- 

 ly, but they endeavored to live up to it. Yet 

 there was no country on this globe so good 

 to live in as Canada; it was without 

 an equal, and was getting to itself every 

 comfort and luxury, Renfrew had done 

 welj already in the way of advancement, but 

 there were still some things to be improved. 

 The American believes he lives in the 

 best town in the world. If the people 

 of Renfrew became imbued with the Ameri- 

 can idea, and believed that theirs was the 

 best town, they would do more to make it so. 

 Prosperity comes from bringing outsiders in. 

 What could each citizen do to improve the 

 town. First, be proud of the town ; second, 

 do everything possible to back up that pride. 

 Definite action was what was necessary. 

 Renfrew evidently had an active mayor and 

 an active M. P., and the rank and file must 

 now move forward with a definite purpose. 



Each must remember the whole time that he 

 was a citizen and that it was his duty to make 

 the place attractive. Since he had come to 

 town he had noticed some places with nice 

 gardens; but more without them. This 

 could be improved and at little expense. A 

 few creepers over a verandah add greatly to 

 the appearance of a place. No papers or 

 broken sticks should be left lying about. 

 One person setting a good example in im- 

 proving the beauty and tidiness of his prem- 

 ises was quickly imitated. At Ottawa Lady 

 Alinto had taken an interest in improving 

 the city and had offered prizes to the per- 

 sons who improved the general appearance 

 of their house and grounds. To start the 

 w^ork of civic improvement, begin with the 

 home garden ; and incidentally Dr. Fletcher 

 remarked that the young man who didn't 

 care for flowers and babies was hardly worth 

 associating with. People who love flowers 

 are happy, are considerate of others ; selfish- 

 ness does not thrive among those who love 

 flowers. Among the shrubs which he par- 

 ticularly recommended for planting were 

 Rudbeckia (golden glow) and Spirea van 

 Houti. The large flowering Japanese hydran- 

 gea was also good, easily propagated, and 

 in clumps of three or five is very beautiful. 

 Three or five are better than four, getting 



