REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICUL.TURE. 11 



fey children kept out of school — in too many cases the older children 

 taken out for good. Continued disappointment on the part of all 

 members of the family, worry and discouragement, added to priva- 

 tions, have resulted in the breaking up of many a home. Eetrench- 

 ment in support of school and church and restricted recreation and 

 public entertainment became necessary. The farm population of the 

 Nation, although less than 30 per cent of the total, is carrying more 

 than 35 per cent of the child population. The farm is charged with 

 the duty of educating this excess of youth and turning it over to 

 the cities at the producing age. During this period of depression 

 both the children who are to remain on the farms and those who are- 

 to be turned over to the cities have been deprived to too great an 

 extent of the spiritual and mental training which is so necessary to 

 make them citizens of the right sort. 



The Nation has suffered equally in depressed morale. There has 

 been no satisfaction in the minds of the farmer or in the minds of 

 the city dwellers over this agricultural depression. The farmer has 

 no challenge to heroism. The farm wife has no glory in her sacri- 

 fice and disappointment and long days of toil. The result has been 

 a social and political unrest which has not contributed to national 

 welfare. The undeserved fate and the powerlessness to pull out of 

 difficulties has lessened hope and developed an unrest which will be 

 felt for a long time. The farmer does not wish to complain, but he 

 is driven to it ; and at the same time he resents the condition which 

 makes it necessary to complain. 



IMPROVEMENT AND SOME REASONS FOR IT. 



In speaking thus briefly of some of the adverse conditions, it is 

 not with the purpose of painting a dismal picture but solely with 

 the thought that a bad condition can not be corrected unless it is 

 understood. As I said in the beginning, the agricultural situa- 

 tion to-day is very much better than a year ago, while the advance 

 made over the terribly discouraging conditions which were pre- 

 cipitated in 1920 and reached the climax in 1921 is nothing short 

 of remarkable. In general there has been steady improvement since 

 the low point in 1921. 



No small part of this improvement must be credited to wise legis- 

 lation and to helpful administration. Agriculture and the needs of 



