SOCIAL SIDE OF THE FARM QUESTION 203 



They must help the farmer solve all his problems, 

 whether these problems are scientific, or eco- 

 nomic, or social, or political. And let it be said 

 in all earnestness that in our rapidly shifting 

 industrial order, the farmer's interest in the 

 political, social, and economic problems of his 

 calling is fully as great as it is in those purely 

 scientific and technical. And rightly so. A 

 prime steer is a triumph. But it will not of it- 

 self keep the farmer free. The 50-bushels-of- 

 wheat acre is a grand business proposition pro- 

 vided the general industrial conditions favor the 

 grower as well as the consumer. When our 

 agricultural colleges enter into the fullest sym- 

 pathy with all the rural problems, when the farm 

 home and the rural school and the country 

 church and the farmer's civic rights and duties 

 and all the relations of his business to other in- 

 dustries — when these questions are "in the air" 

 of our agricultural colleges, then and then alone 

 will these colleges fulfil their true mission of 

 being all things to all farmers. 



