ASSOCIATIONS FOR RURAL IMPROVEMENT. 217 



We deem it proper to mention, tbat tbe idea of making this bequest 

 was suggested to Mr. Arnold by bis intimate friend, Mr. George B. 

 Emerson, of Boston whose earnest devotion to the interests of forestry 

 has not for many years allowed an opportunity for its advancement to 

 pass unimproved. The trust was left altogether at Mr. Emerson's con- 

 trol, and when finally conveyed to the corporation of Harvai'd College, 

 it had increased under his judicious management, largely beyond its 

 original amount. 



At least two-thirds of the income of the fund is to be accumulated 

 until the fund amounts to at least 8150,000 and the Bussey estate (Wood- 

 land Hill), in West Iloxbury, passes completely into the hands of the 

 president and fellows of Harvard College. 



A part of the estate has been specified as the site of the arboretum, 

 in tbe indenture which defines the objects and terms of this gift. This 

 portion contains about 137 acres, and is tbe finest part of tbe whole 

 estate, as regards variety of its soils, the beauty and variety of the trees 

 already growing upon it, and the lay of the land. It is probable that 

 the grounds will in future be laid out as an oi)en public park, with suit- 

 able walks and roadways.^ 



A TASTE POE RURAL ORNAMENT — ASSOCIATIONS FOR VILLAGE 

 BIPROVEMENT. 



No one can doubt but that a realization of the advantages of tree-plant- 

 ing may be greatly promoted through the iufl^ueuce of associations formed 

 for town and village improvement, especially where these enterprises 

 include the premises connected with schools, and where the labors in- 

 terest the young. An appreciation of the beauties of nature will tend 

 to such measures as will best secure their presence. An example of 

 unusual success, may lead to imitation; and thus extending from one 

 place to another, and from villages to farms, homesteads, and rural dwell- 

 ings — the general result cannot fail of largely increasing the amount of 

 planting in a country, and of enhancing the enjoyment of l he inhabitants 

 among whom this taste for rural ornament prevails. The tendencies of 

 such emulation have been thus noticed by a zealous laborer in this field 

 of useful public service : 



The influence of village improvement in cultivating the taste, developing town pride 

 and public spirit, promoting sympathy with nature, leading to the beautifying of the 

 home, and thus binding the heart of childhood with stronger ties to the homestead, 

 and checking excessive passion for city life, suggests the educational bearings of this 

 subject. A beautiful village is itself an educator to all its youth — for the child's sur- 

 roundings influence his character.* 



In many villages throughout tbe country, the stranger cannot fail of 

 being impressed with a sense of home comfort, sociability, and kindness 

 which the place presents at first sight, and this impression is often con- 

 firmed upon nearer view, as he gets more fully acquainted. This feel- 

 ing is not due to fine houses nor wide and well-paved streets; for what 

 would be more cheerless than such houses or streets unless embellished 

 with trees? It is rather due to the general effect of well-kept avenues 

 of shade-trees, smooth lawns, and tastefully-arranged vines and shrub- 

 bery. It is especially improved if tbe object of admiration is a public 

 park or other ground, in which the care does not depend upon individ- 



' Bulletin of the Bussey Institution, i, pp. 295, 455. 



"Hon. B. G. Nor'hrop, secretary of Board of Education of Connecticut, in his Report 

 of 1675, p. 118. This geutleman,'by lecturing and writing, has done much toward pro- 

 moting a spirit of rural improvement. His reports for 1869, 1875 and 1876, contain 

 valuable articles upon this subject. 



