71 H KEPOKT OF OFFICE OF KXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



of ccoiiomic's or socioloiiv ollVi's ;i I'icbcr lickl I'oi' iiiNcstii'iifioii than 

 (Iocs a»^ri('ultiirc. 



The request ^\ liicli ;amc to iiic for tliis urticle said sppcilically that 

 a discussion of possible, work in af^fricultural cconouiics was desired. 

 I can not refrain, however, in closino-, from inakiii^- a ])lca for a 

 broader view of th(^ (juestioM and for uri;iiii>' a<^i'icultiii"ai c(hicators to 

 consider as a unit the whoki su])ject of what, for want of a bi'tter 

 term, we may call rural social science, and therefore to permit just as 

 much attention to the study of rural sociology as to the study of agri- 

 cultural economics. We need more well-ecjuippcd leaders on the 

 farm, and these leaders Avill find that the questions confronting them 

 are in no small degree sociological. Farmers' oi'ganizations, better 

 connuunication in rural districts, the country school, the country 

 churcli. all the ])i-oad jjhases of agricultural education, are pressing 

 problems in each farm connnuiiity. They need tlu^ leadership of 

 trained minds. Viewed in all broader aspects, these sociological ([ues- 

 tions are of the greatest importance. Indeed, if I had to choose 

 between a course in rural sociology and a course in agricultural 

 economics, taking as a standpoint the need of the man who is getting 

 his training in an agricultural college as a future farmer, I would be 

 inclined to sacrifice the agricultural economics, because I believe that 

 the adequate development of the social agencies for progress in rural 

 life is of vitiil and immediate concern. If, however, the course in 

 rural sociology can not be given, I would urge that a chapter be added 

 to the outline submitted above, somewhat as follows. This will serve 

 at least to call attention to the importance of the sociological factor in 

 rural progress: 



VIII. Some sociological factors intluencing tlu- industT-y of agriculture. 

 Movements of the farm population. 

 Improvements in communication in rural districts — trolleys, telephones, 



mail delivery, roads. 

 The country church. 

 The rural school. 

 Agricultural education. 

 Farmers' f)rganizations and societies. 

 Cooperation of the factors. 



