294 CAMPBELL'S SOIL CULTURE MANUAL 



Now there is nothing that will go so far toward chang- 

 ing the life of a man or of a family to the better things as 

 prosperity. Poverty is a demoralizing influence. Idleness 

 is next of kin to sin. And idleness is closely associated 

 with poor farming. Whatever tends to give the people 

 more of the material comforts of life helps to raise them 

 up. It is easier to be good when one has had a fine dinner. 



Scientific soil culture points the way to greater pros- 

 perity on the farm. It means steady large results with no 

 losses. It means that farming operations are reduced to 

 a science. With an understanding of its principles and 

 such application of the same as to produce the results 

 which are always possible, it means the raising of the 

 average of living to a higher plane. It means more home 

 comforts, better farm equipment, finer houses and barns, 

 good roads, telephone, and trolley lines, and above all else 

 support of the schools and the churches. 



It is a most excellent thing for any community to give 

 support to the schools and the churches. The benefits 

 come in many ways. They are not all visionary. And a 

 people who do support schools and churches are not the 

 up-grade at all times. They help to better conditions in 

 the cities and towns. They give to the cities the ablest 

 of the men in all walks of life. But unless there is actual 

 success in farm operations the influence nay be the other 

 way. Discontent on the farm is a dangerous thing and has 

 sent many a noble boy and girl to the city with high hopes 

 of betterment which too often have proved a bitter failure. 



It is because of the fact that the state and the nation 

 are vitally interested in the welfare of the farming popu- 

 lation that public sentiment supports with hearty unanim- 

 ity the expenditures of millions annually to improve the 

 farming conditions. The state cannot be a good state 



