282 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE, 



more intelligent and more capable man. For the skilful, in- 

 telligent and industrious farmer, prospects were never brighter 

 than they are at ipresent. Land values are increasing and are 

 bound to increaise, for the land' is the basis of all prosperity. 

 We have one- fourth of the papulation of the United States 

 within our ,reach. We have the best markets of the world, 

 because tliey have the largesit purchasing power of any mar- 

 kets of the world; because the purchase price of pl'ant food 

 for growth of a carload of corn or other farm product is 

 less than the transportation cost of a similar carload of 

 pro-ducts from the West. 



The farmer ,is ithe citizen, who carries on the work directly 

 on the land. Farming is not a sordid occupation ; it is not a 

 coarsening one. Men in business take on the quality of theu 

 partners, and especially tlie predominant partners' attributes 

 which find expression through all their minor partners. Per- 

 haps that is why, as you think back and think out, the qualities 

 of rdiabihty, dependability, and conscience are a natural native 

 asset of the New England folk, born and bred in the country. 

 It is true that others have these qualities, but the rural popula- 

 tion is the great mother source of them, among the civilized 

 races today. 



Farming has this big object before it, — the improvement of 

 crops and through that, the improvement of man. This labor 

 on land is really tilie culture of the race and not merely the cul- 

 ture of the fieild. To Maiine, comes the challenge of the New 

 Agriculture, "Better Farming," "Better Farms," and "Better 

 Farmers." 



