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 codperation 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 . Fic. 30.—Rural trolley express, a conven- 
poultryman’s first duty should Fe en ee eee eee 
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 
lookedinto. 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. 
