602 EXPEKIMENT STATION RECORD. 



the country life more gainful, more attractive, and fuller of oppor- 

 tunities, pleasures, and rewards for men, women, and children of the 

 farms." 



The President defined the field of the commission and his expecta- 

 tions in regard to it in the following terms : " I shall be glad if the 

 commission will report to me upon the present condition of country 

 life, upon what means are now available for supplying the deficiencies 

 which exist, and upon the best methods of organizing permanent 

 effort in investigation and actual work along the lines I have indi- 

 cated. You will doubtless also find it necessary to suggest means 

 for bringing about the redirection or better adaptation of rural 

 schools to the training of children for life on the farm. The National 

 and State agricultural departments must ultimately join with the 

 various farmers' and agricultural organizations in the effort to secure 

 greater efficiency and attractiveness in country life.'" 



The commission consisted of Dean L. H. Bailey, of the New York 

 State College of Agriculture, chairman; Mr. Henry Wallace, editor; 

 President Kenyon L. Butterfield, of the Massachusetts Agricultural 

 College; Mr. Gifford Pinchot, of the U. S. Forest Service; and 

 Mr. "Walter H. Page, editor. The commission met and adopted plans 

 for its work the latter part of September. It appointed Dr. E. W. 

 Allen, assistant director of this Office, to act as its executive secre- 

 tary. Subsequently William A. Beard, of California, and Charles 

 S. Barrett, of Georgia, were added to the commission. 



The commission devoted itself principally to securing a consensus 

 of opinion as to the actual conditions prevailing over the country 

 with reference to the social and sanitary conditions surrounding life 

 in the country, educational facilities, facilities for communication 

 and for the conduct of business, farm labor and tenancy, cooperation 

 in buying and selling, and similar matters; and to becoming familiar 

 with the various agencies in a position to assist in promoting rural 

 welfare. Its work was divided among the members, such subjects 

 as the social and sanitary conditions of the farm home, problems of 

 education, farm labor and tenancy, sociological problems, etc., being 

 assigned to different members. 



The purpose of the commission, as stated in the President's message 

 to Congress transmitting the report of the commission, Avas " not to 

 help the farmer to raise better crops, but to call his attention to 

 opportunities for better business and better living on the farm." 

 Agricultural production is, in the judgment of the President, being 

 ade(|uately provided for by other organizations, for, as he says, " the 

 National Department of Agriculture, which has rendered services 

 equaled by no other similar department in any other time or place; 



