AGRICULTURAL WASTES 171 



a town, the neighboring cities come to the rescue. A 

 great humanitarian association of a purely voluntary- 

 character, the Red Cross, is always equipped to succor 

 suffering humanity, dazed by fire or flood or decimated 

 by the Eed Dragon of war. The Congress of the 

 United States has voted millions to relieve the victims 

 of disasters of fire, flood and seismic spasms. I wonder 

 what James Buchanan, vetoer of agricultural extension 

 aid, would say to these national gifts and philanthro- 

 pies ? In the face of great disaster and its consequent 

 suffering, we do not wait to consult the constitution. I 

 do not see why the State or the nation, in lieu of these 

 spasmodic gifts to the victims of unavoidable catas- 

 trophes, might not institute some form of insurance 

 which would provide automatic and speedy relief. On 

 the other hand, the farmer, as well as every other bene- 

 ficiary of an insurance of any kind, must be held strictly 

 accountable for his own negligence and indifference. 

 Any system of public or private compensation that 

 would repress industry, dim foresight, or paralyze pre- 

 caution, would work harm and not good. 



These vicissitudes of fortune which I have enumer- 

 ated, however, do greater damage by the little but per- 

 sistent wastes which they produce, than do the great 

 cataclysms that overwhelm a restricted area and arouse 

 a world-wide benevolence. 



The ravages of insects, the unequal distribution of 

 rain, premature or delayed frosts, the peach borer, local 

 accidents and diseases, the black rust and the blight, are 

 the principal wastes from which the farmer suffers. 

 These are not considered of a character to command 

 attention, excite sympathy, demand remedial legisla- 

 tion, or call for help from the Red Cross. 



The time will never come when the fields will yield 



