THE EXPANSION OF FARM LIFE 47 



the farmer and the man of science have at last 

 found common ground. And while the pendu 

 lum of agricultural prosperity shall always swing 

 to and fro, there are, to change the figure, reasons 

 for believing that an increasing number of 

 farmers have rooted the tree of permanent suc 

 cess. 



To enumerate some of these reasons: (i) 

 Thousands of farmers are farming on a scientific 

 basis. They use the results of soil and fertilizer 

 analysis; they cultivate, not to kill weeds so 

 much as to conserve moisture; horticulturists 

 spray their trees according to formulas laid 

 down by experimenters; dairymen use the 

 "Babcock test" for determining the fat content 

 of milk; stock-feeders utilize the scientists' feed 

 ing rations. (2) The number of specialists 

 among farmers is increasing. This is a sign of 

 progress surely. More and more farmers are 

 coming to push a single line of work. (3) New 

 methods are being rapidly adopted. Fifteen 

 years ago hardly a fruit-grower sprayed for in 

 sect and fungus pests; today it is rare to find 

 one who does not. The co-operative creamery 

 has not only revolutionized the character of the 

 butter product made by the factory system, but 

 it has set the pace for thousands of private dairy- 



