236 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 April, 1916. 



THE SOCIAL SIDE OF FARM LIFE. 



By A . Strahan, Editor. 



The increasing cry " Back to the Land," in th© more densely- 

 populated countries of the world, finds its counter part, even in these 

 newer countries of Australia, where much jDioneering work has still to 

 be accomplished. If we examine the census record of Australia we find 

 a great disproportion of rural to city dwellers, the greater number con- 

 gregating in the capital cities of the Commonwealth. The causes are 

 many, probably the most potent being the amount, of money necessarily 

 expended at the seat of government to exploit the inland territories. 

 Consequently manufacturing establishments have sprung into being in 

 these centres, necessitating the employment in various capacities of 

 great numbers of men. The attraction of city life has ever been the 

 lure of the dweller on the land. The more intelligent see the way to 

 easier conditions of life, their children have better opportunities for 

 education, and they themselves enjoy the relaxations of civilization that 

 all crowded cities afford. Of course it can be argued that the city is 

 not as healthful as the country, but in this country at least that factor 

 is probably a more negligent one than in countries which do not possess 

 such a climate as we are fortunate enough to enjoy. Our health resorts 

 do not advertise their hours of sunshine to make them attractive to the 

 weary and holiday seeker. One common luxury enjoyed by city and 

 country dwellers alike in Australia is this self same health bringer, 

 sunshine. We all enjoy it whether we be in the country or crowded city. 

 In one way this places a further burden on those advocating the " Back 

 to the Land " cry, for there is no use in advocating the glorious sun- 

 shine of the country against the murk of the city. And so w© begin our 

 argument in pushing the claims of country life against those of the city 

 with a heavy handicap. The purpose of this article is not to attempt 

 to prove the impossible ; it is frankly admitted that the attractions of 

 city life are all too overwhelming. An attempt is to be made to point 

 a way so that country life may be made much more attractive and 

 appeal to a greater number of people. Let us begin with a maxim. 

 Civilization after all is only a large number of people living sanely and 

 helping each other to resist those natural feelings that make for 

 neglectful living. The starched shirt has more significance than most 

 unthinking people give it credit for. Discipline is the guardian of 

 civilization. 



Now that the question cf settling those of our returned soldiers on 

 the land is assuming a definite shape, it behoves us to seek means of 

 ameliorating the conditions that a rural life entails. In Australia, in 

 most of the parts, that will be the scenes of the future labours of 

 many of the warriors who have laid down the pen for the sword, and 

 beaten their military weapons into agricultural implements, pioneering 

 work has been accomplished. No longer is it necessary to live hard and 

 to die hard if need be. The factors lacking to make the movement a 

 success are those amenities of civilization that such men have, in a 

 measure, enjoyed before the blue skies and the wide spaces called them. 

 The older generation of pioneers " shunned delights and lived laborious 



