236 BOAED OF AGRICULTURE. 



national dislikes and prejudices, — many of them ignorant of 

 the ways of business as it is carried on in commercial circles, 

 and all living comparatively isolated lives. These are the 

 discordant elements that must be united. The kindred ties 

 of agriculture will not do it, any more than the tie of mer- 

 cantile life will unite the trader and dealer. Business, or 

 the organized effort to secure the almighty dollar, blends 

 them into one body ; unites and harmonizes the varied 

 interests, and whatsoever the nationality or calling, it alike 

 receives and gives support. 



Possibly the American farmer has heretofore had but little 

 need of business aids. The country merchant took the few 

 articles raised for market, and gave him in return articles 

 which his farm or household could not supply. His wants 

 were few, and home industries mostly supplied them. But 

 times have greatly changed and are to change yet more. 

 Wants multiply ; what were once luxuries of life are now 

 necessities. The spirit of the times is progressive. Rapid 

 changes are beiuo- made in all our domestic surroundinijs. 

 Steam, electricity and printing have wrought a social revolu- 

 tion ; levelling all class distinction, giving equal opportunities 

 to all who are keen enough to grasp them. Town and 

 country are becoming more intimately blended. The or- 

 dinary farm home of to-day is more luxurious than the 

 dwelling of the man of wealth of a few decades ago. The 

 farmer is no longer known by his dress. His sons and 

 daughters acquire the same accomplishments as do those of 

 business and professional men. The great peculiarity of 

 these changes is, that they have all come so suddenly. 

 With them has come a great change in the methods of busi- 

 ness, fully as great as steam has wrought in the system of 

 transportation, or electricity in the art of conveying intelli- 

 gence. The time when the country trader was the recog- 

 nized exponent of all business requirements is within the 

 memory of us all. To-day he represents the lowest place. 

 All the great and confusing whirl of business excitement 

 that we witness abroad has been developed and is controlled 

 by the expression of one word, co-operation; it is the life of 

 business, — the vitality of the nation depends upon it. It is 

 revolutionizing the world. Modes and systems heretofore 



