232 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



lowed by many social calls, the intimacy of their young days was 

 renewed, and now that locality counts two happy and prosperous 

 families instead of one. Yes, more than this, for when two men 

 and two women begin to compare notes and make changes in the 

 home and on the farm the neighbors will very sooon prick up their 

 ears and call around to investigate. Prompted by curiosity at first 

 it may be, but ere long the social call will take the place of the 

 curious, and good feeling will prevail throughout the community. 



Sociability is a part of man's nature. It is a large factor in that 

 law which directs and controls him. Point out a farming district 

 that has a well organized and well attended Grange, a live debating 

 society and reading circle, and a district high school, and you will 

 find neat houses well furnished and comfortable; large barns with 

 stables and sheds for the stock and implements; good stock and 

 equipment; happy and intelligent fathers, mothers and children. 

 The very atmosphere is resonant with the acclaim of success that is 

 patent on every hand, while the heads of the households are regu- 

 larly investing the surplus to be ready to purchase the farm of any- 

 one who may be so shortsighted as to attempt to go his own way 

 and think this social life "nice but not profitable." 



In this age of combines and trusts it has been suggested that the 

 farmers must pool their interests in one vast corporation and hold 

 their products until the market will consent to pay the price fixed. 

 Can this be done? We answer, no; most emphatically, no. Why 

 not? Because the farmers as a class lack confidence in each other 

 and mankind in general, and no amount of argument along the most 

 feasible lines of combined effort would convince the average farmer 

 that you were not laying some skilful plan to trap him and gather in 

 his hard earned shekels. 



■ Yet the farmers are nearer together to-day than ten years ago. 

 They know each other better. Sharp competition has driven them 

 to join hands and unite interest for mutual protection. This has 

 raised the social scale to a much. higher level. They read more; 

 they dress better; their children are brighter, more talented, and 

 better educated; they drive better horses, carriages and wagons; 

 they go to the Farmers' Institutes more and more each year; and as 

 they improve their social opportunities they increase their wealth in 

 almost every instance. The time is coming when an organization of 

 farmers will be just as practicable, and when effected, will be just 

 as cohesive as any organized body of men on earth, and, permit the 

 prediction, more honest and humane than the average, because the 

 social atmosphere in which the farmer grew and developed was 

 purer and better. Give us the district high school, with nature's 

 studies and the more advanced branches taught in our cities and 

 towns, the rural free mail delivery to bring the farmers' families 



