

Public interest in home and rural adornment is rapidly increasing. A little 

 foresight will show that no rural community can afford to continue without some 

 organized efforts for this purpose, such as have done great good in 'promoting 

 public health, cultivating public spirit, quickening social and intellectual life, build- 

 ing up and beautifying towns, and thus enhancing the value of real estate. I shall 

 be happy to cooperate with public-spirited citizens who are moving in this matter, 

 and will lecture on this subject, without charge either for services or expenses, hi 

 any town in Connecticut. In this reprint from an official Report, a few local allu- 

 sions are retained to show the original aim of the writer and the application of 

 kindred plans and principles to other fields. 



ltd aim 



CONTENTS 



OBJECTS or RURAL IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATIONS: 



1. To cultivate public spirit and town pride, . .3 



2. To quicken the intellectual life of the people, ... 7 



3. Promote good fellowship, . .8 



4. Secure better hygienic conditions, ... 9 



5. Improve road-sides, roads, side-walks, and light streets, . .10 



6. Improve public grounds, . . . . . . 11 



7. Educational bearings, . . . . . . .14 



8. Improye;the home^'aid[ttcnie-life of the people, . . 17 



9. Tr,ee-.planting, . . ... > -21 



10. E'aunmakf bearings; : ' ...... 29 



11. Recuperation of sterile lands, . . . . . .30 



12. Improve the surroundings of railway stations, ... 43 



13. Minor aims, . . . . . . . .44 



14. Betterment of factory surroundings, .... 45 



15. The Two Model Factories, . . . . . .46 



16. Plan or "Constitution" of a Rural Improvement Association, . 51 



