THE FARMER 7 



Grange now consists of thousands of organizations in farming 

 communities devoted to improving agriculture and country 

 social life. 



Is there a Grange in your vicinity? If so, what are its activi- 

 ties? Does it conduct a cooperative store for its members? 



7. Farm demonstration: Since 1904 the United States Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture has sent out field agents to demonstrate 

 methods and improvements to farmers by actual cooperation 

 on the farm. To their efforts have been added those of agri- 

 cultural college extension specialists and county extension 

 agents. 



8. School gardens and prizes: In recent years schools, societies, 

 and government departments have come to offer prizes to 

 boys and girls for excellence in the products of farm and garden. 



9. The cooperative marketing of farm products: In certain sec- 

 tions of the country, where particular crops are raised on a 

 large scale, cooperative marketing has been developed to give 

 the farmer a just price for his products. Cotton, wool, milk, 

 the cereals, fruits, and other crops are sold in this way. In 

 California, for example, there are now large cooperative asso- 

 ciations of fruit growers in individual lines, one for orange 

 growers, one for prune raisers, and so on. 



10. Kinds of farming in the United States : Cotton, tobacco, and 

 sweet potatoes are grown in the South. Where are our white 

 potatoes grown? Where our cereals? Where does our sugar 

 come from? What states lead in certain crops? What is the 

 nature of the farming industry of your own state and of your 

 own locality? 



Make a table of the leading agricultural products of the 

 country, showing the quantity of each raised and its chief 

 sources. The statistics of the United States Department of 

 Agriculture, facts in your geography, and seasonal crop reports 

 in the public press will give you this information. 



11. The " back to the farm " movement: Fifty years ago about 

 two-thirds of the people of the country lived in the rural dis- 

 tricts, and one- third in large towns and cities. The urban 

 population has steadily increased and the rural has relatively 

 decreased. Overcrowding in the large communities has brought 

 about undesirable conditions and has helped to raise the cost of 



