84 CHAPTERS IN RURAL PROGRESS 



dence in the farm. Our agricultural colleges 

 have been criticized because they have gradu 

 ated so few farmers. But the fault is not all 

 with the colleges. The farmers also are to 

 blame. They have not had faith enough in the 

 farm to advise young men to go to college to 

 prepare for farming. They admit the value of 

 education for the law, for building railroads, but 

 not for farming. This must be changed, is 

 being changed. The last ten years have seen 

 a revolution in this respect, and the result is a 

 mighty increase in agricultural educational 

 interest. 



One powerful means of agricultural education 

 is the farmers' organization or association. All 

 our dairy, horticultural, poultry, and live-stock 

 associations are great educators. So of an or 

 ganization like the Grange, its chief work is 

 education. It brings mind in contact with 

 mind; it gives chance for discussion and inter 

 change of ideas; it trains in power of expres 

 sion; it teaches the virtue of co-operation. 

 Farmers blunder when they fail to encourage 

 organization. Sometimes, out of foolish notions 

 of independence, they neglect to unite their 

 forces. They are utterly blind to their best 

 interests when they do so. They should en- 



