15^19] EDITORIAL. 703 



In another address the Secretary emphasized the importance of 

 marketing studies in aiding the farming industry, and insisted that 

 the agricultural colleges should recognize the burden upon them for 

 training men for this service. 



There is no longer any question, therefore, as to the existence of a 

 rural problem, or doubt as to the great importance of its study. 

 Such uncertainty, and even resentment, as was manifested when the 

 subject was mapped out by the Commission on Country Life less than 

 twelve years ago has given way to a live interest and action. This 

 shows how far we have already come in this direction. 



Few things are more interesting than tracing the development of 

 an idea, the working out of a new departure or line of action. The 

 history of agricultural institutions is especially rich in such oppor- 

 tunity. Each new proposal has had to make its way step b}' step, 

 in the face of more or less opposition or lack of response, before it 

 has been accepted and given support. This doubting attitude has 

 characterized not only farmers but often their leaders and those Avho 

 speak for them. It is natural that it should be pronounced when it 

 touches the customs, traditions, methods, and even the individuality 

 of a people who have developed on the basis of self-reliance and 

 independence. 



"We have only to recall how hard was the beginning of the agricul- 

 tural school and later of the agricultural college. Few institutions 

 ever passed through darker days. Relatively few people believed in 

 them, and still less understood their opportunities for usefulness. 

 There are still those who contend that these colleges were designed 

 and should have continued to be only trade schools. Later when the 

 experiment station was suggested it was received with little enthusi- 

 asm and had to justify itself largely by the analysis of commercial 

 fertilizers to protect the farmers from imposition. The station was 

 the first attempt to do something tangible for the farmers themselves, 

 and it proved an entering wedge which was ultimately inost effective. 

 But at the outset most farmers thought they knew of their own 

 knowledge and the experience of their forbears how to farm their 

 lands and take care of their herds, and they were living in a time 

 when they could hardlj' help making a living on the farm. Even 

 after the station became a subject of Government patronage it had its 

 difficulties at home, in working out its functions and devoting means 

 to ends. We can see now that if there had been more vision and 

 courage in the early years progress might have been more rapid in 

 some of the States. 



By sheer force of the results of their work the stations gradually 

 compelled recognition, to a constantly broadening extent, and won 



