The Civic Improvement Movement in Ontario 



Prof. H. L. Hutt, Ontario Agricultural College, Guelph 



(Continued from last issue) 



IN some places, the local board of trade 

 has taken the initiative in promot- 

 ing civic improvement, because they 

 realize the fact that beautiful surround- 

 ings are a potent factor in attracting 

 citizens and increasing trade. The Orillia 

 Board of Trade a couple of years ago 

 published a neat little booklet encour- 

 aging the citizens to unite in making 

 Orillia an attractive spot for summer 

 visitors. 



From the Ottawa Citizen, we clip 

 the following: "The people of Ottawa 

 are taking an increasing pride in the 

 appearance of the capital, which the 

 Dominion Government has also done so 

 much to beautify. Ten years ago there 

 was only one park in Ottawa, and the 

 most of the private residences were 

 walled in by high fences ; now there are 

 seven parks, nearly all the fences have 

 been taken down, so that gardens and 

 lawns are open to the street, and those 

 having available grounds for the purpose 

 are planting them with flowers and 

 shrubs, and generally adding to the 

 beauty not only of the premises but of 

 the locality." And so the improvement 

 is going on steadily in many parts of the 

 country. 



VALUE OF HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES 



In some places the local horticultural 

 societies have taken an active part in 

 promoting civic and rural improvement, 

 particularly along horticultural lines. In 

 other places the work has been confined 

 too much to a few special features of 

 improvement, such as floriculture or 

 window gardening. Such societies 

 should be encouraged to reach out and 

 take a broader view of their opportuni- 

 ties. I would suggest the following as 

 a few of the avenues through which the 

 local societies might work to good 

 advantage in promoting improvement in 

 their respective communities: 



1. By conducting an educative cam- 

 paign in awakening public interest to 

 an appreciation of the value of neatness, 

 order, and beautiful surroundings. To 

 this end it is well to make good use of 

 the local press. 



2. By enlisting the support of the 

 rising generation by flower competitions, 

 and also by making school as well as 

 home surroundings as beautiful as pos- 

 sible. Young people brought up amid 

 beautiful surroundings may be counted 

 on in later years to work for rural and 

 civic improvement wherever they may be 

 placed. I am looking forward to an 

 early awakening of school boards to the 

 importance of improving school grounds, 

 and have prepared a bulletin on that 



subject for the Ontario Educational 

 Department this year. 



3. By seeking the co-operating of 

 other influential local organizations, such 

 as thi town council, board of trade, or 

 school board, which may be willing to 

 assist in making local improvements. 

 In union there is strength. 



4. By working for the appointment of 

 progressive local park boards or com- 

 missions and urging such boards to get 

 possession of suitable lands for park 



ance of our country. Tourists from all 

 over the world would come to see 

 Beautiful Ontario. 



LEGISLATION DESIRED 



There ar^ a few things upon which 

 it would be desirable to have some legis- 

 lation in this country, and which this 

 association might be instrumental in 

 getting, if it were to join forces with 

 other organizations which have been 

 asking for the same : 



I. Legislation to control the bill- 



A Bed in Gore Park, Elmira, Ontario, Planted by Local Horticultural Society 



purposes while they are cheap. Plans 

 can then be adopted for their gradual 

 development and improvement. 



.The Ontario Parks Act provides that 

 one-half mill on the assessment may be 

 used by any park board so appointed for 

 such purposes. And whenever such 

 money is judiciously expended, the in- 

 creased value of adjacent lands will soon 

 pay a good share of the cost of such 

 improvements in increased revenues from 

 taxes. 



The park board in any town might also 

 be asked to establish a small nursery, 

 where trees, shrubs, and vines could be 

 grown in quantity for civic improvement 

 work, and could be supplied to the 

 citizens- at cost for planting in their own 

 grounds. 



5. Every property holder should be 

 encouraged by precept and example to 

 contribute his share to the general im- 

 provement of the place by making his 

 own lot as attractive as possible. If 

 every citizen did his share, what h 

 change would take place in the appear- 



6 



board nuisance and advertising monstros- 

 ities which disfigure architectural beauty 

 as well as natural scenery. 



2. To prohibit the butchery of street 

 and roadside trees by telephone and 

 telegraph companies, and to compel the 

 placing of their wires underground where- 

 ever they enter town or city limits. 



3. To prevent dogs running at large 

 within town or city limits. 



There may be room for diversity of 

 opinion upon all of these questions, but 

 there can be no two opinions about it, 

 that dogs and bill boards and unsightly 

 telegraph and telephone poles are at 

 enmity with civic improvement. 



Some notes on new peonies, by Mr. 

 R. B. Whyte, Ottawa, will be published 

 in an early issue. 



An illustrated article on "Window 

 Boxes, Hanging Baskets and Rustic 

 Stands," by Mr. William Hunt, Ontario 

 Agricultural College, will appear in the 

 next issue of The Canadian Horticul- 

 turist. 



