172 CHAPTERS IN RURAL PROGRESS 



of the captain of industry, of the statesman, of the 

 economist, of the educator, of the preacher. We 

 may also, without danger of being put to con 

 fusion, assume that the tiller of the soil is in 

 essential character very much like other people. 

 Farmer nature is usually a fair specimen of 

 human nature. Nevertheless the environment 

 of the farmer is a peculiar one. Individually 

 as well as socially he is comparatively isolated. 

 He meets but little social friction. The class 

 to which he belongs is largely a segregated class, 

 physically and socially. 



All these things give to the rural social problem 

 a distinctive character and give rise to the great 

 social needs of the farmer. What are these 

 needs? I name three: (i) Completer organiza 

 tion. Farmers do not co-operate easily. They 

 never had to co-operate largely under the old 

 regime, for pioneer farming placed a premium 

 on individualism. The present century how 

 ever, with its emphasis upon organization and 

 co-operation, calls the farmer to the task with 

 the warning cry that unless he does organize he 

 is in danger of losing his present industrial, 

 political, and social status. (2) Better education. 

 The rural schools may not be so deficient as to 

 deserve all the scorn heaped upon them by 



