RURAL AND VILLAGE 



so much in the right direction that others came 

 to a realization of their own need and oppor- 

 tunity and followed his example. Soon they 

 banded themselves together, and to-day they 

 take intense pride and delight in carrying for- 

 ward the good work. 



The need of such a' society in every com- 

 munity is apparent to anyone who will go 

 about with his eyes open. He will see chances 

 for improvement on every hand. He will soon 

 discover them where he had not supposed they 

 existed until he began to look for them. Ob- 

 servation will sharpen his vision in this respect, 

 and he will soon come to the conclusion that 

 the scope of an improvement society is a 

 broad one, and one that enlarges as the work 

 goes on. 



It is not my intention to get down to defi- 

 nite details in this paper, which is more a plea 

 for the formation of improvement societies 

 than anything else, but I desire to call attention 

 to some peculiar features of the work, and also 

 to suggest some of the means and methods 

 and materials which can be made use of in 

 nearly all communities in the performance 

 of it. 



The average village lot is deficient in shrub- 



280 



