398 ELEMENTS OF AGRICULTURE 



no difference whether one belongs to all these organiza- 

 tions or not. They affect the community, and a loyal citi- 

 zen is interested in everything that affects the community. 

 Cooperative organizations of many kinds are needed, if 

 farmers are to be able to deal successfully with the city 

 organizations. There are two ways in which one may be 

 a leader in public work. One way is to be president of 

 everything and do all the work alone. The other way is 

 to help others to take the positions of responsibility, and 

 remain more or less in the background. The strong leader 

 is the one who gets other persons so interested that they 

 will carry on the work even if he should drop out. 



A reasonable amount of time spent on these civic duties 

 will not detract from the farm profits. If one does some 

 of this public work, he is likely to be more alert, and because 

 of the recreation that it gives, he will be better able to 

 conduct his farm. If one does nothing but work, his senses 

 will eventually become dulled, his interest in life lost, his 

 step will become slower and his smiles less frequent because 

 he misses the diversion of community life that all humanity 

 requires. Occasionally, a man neglects his farm because 

 of these interests, but this is not necessary. In fact, his 

 influence in the community is usually lost if his farm is 

 neglected. The ideal citizen is one who works quietly, 

 doing those things that lie first at hand; one who keeps 

 his own place neat and prosperous, and who is ever ready 

 to assist a public enterprise without becoming officious. 



