SOCIAL FACILITIES 43 



noticing the presence of some of the following institutions: The 

 Grange is an organization for social and educational development, 

 and in choosing the location the presence of a Grange in a com- 

 munity is a desirable advantage. The location of a public or 

 town library where the family can secure up-to-date reading mat- 

 ter at small cost is another desirable asset. Country socials held 

 at frequent intervals and pointing toward desirable agricultural 

 efforts, show a proper spirit of cooperation and neighborliness 

 which means much toward increasing community interest. Organ- 

 izations which provide lectures at frequent intervals on popular 

 agricultural subjects exist in many communities, and are a strong 

 factor for the agricultural development of that particular section. 

 The building up of agricultural institutions and the development 

 of agricultural organizations of various kinds, such as breeding 

 associations, milk-testing associations, educational poultry asso- 

 ciations, and poultry show associations, all offer greater social 

 opportunities. They serve as 

 an indication of the intellectual 

 attainments of the farmers, 

 and they may be taken, also, 

 as a measure of the success 

 which is crowning the efforts of 

 the farmers in a given district. 



Social Facilities. The FIG. SO. Rural trolley express, a conven- 



poultryman's first duty should a^lnSty 

 be to his home, and especially (Photo by Rhode island Co.) 

 his children, and in choosing 



the location the presence of good rural schools should be carefully 

 looked into. The general tendency in rural schools is toward con- 

 solidation, and hence close proximity to a consolidated school means 

 progressive education of practically as high a degree of efficiency 

 as can be obtained in urban centres. In such centres the boys and 

 girls usually organize agricultural clubs with various aims and 

 objects, such as boys' and girls' poultry clubs and corn clubs. 

 In such consolidated school districts the intellectual development 

 of instructors is materially higher than in the isolated district, 

 where the small district or rural school is the only educational 

 centre. The close proximity to higher institutions of learning is 

 a material asset, but not always necessary. The influence of such 

 institutions on a community is very material, and often worth 

 considering when deciding between two locations. 



