THE NEW AGRICULTURE. 55 



unless agriculture prospers. Thus they are more willing to meet 

 the farmer half way and co-operate in those things of mutual 

 interest. You well recall the fine showing made by the Boston 

 Chamber of Commerce last year at the time of the Xew England 

 Fruit Show. It was a great inspiration to the assembled agricul- 

 turists to witness the cordiality and hospitality of the chamber of 

 commerce. Furthermore, I think the members of the organization 

 learned a thing or two about resources of New England soils of 

 which they never dreamed. Boards of trade in various towns and 

 cities are not only showing an interest in the rural development of 

 sections upon which they draw, but they are actually encouraging 

 members to invest money in the many semi-utilized farms. 



In this great work the educating influence of the grange cannot 

 be ignored. With nearly 30,000 members in Massachusetts, and 

 about half a million throughout the country, the grange is a factor 

 in promoting a "better manhood and womanhood." With the 

 exception of a few city granges, composed almost wholly of those 

 who believe they have no direct interest in agriculture, the thousands 

 of meetings held are directed along the lines of this new agriculture. 

 They are in touch with the agricultural colleges and all the later 

 agencies of promoting an applied knowledge. One especially 

 strong factor in the grange is the fact that the whole family has the 

 privilege of joining, and as you attend some of these neighborly 

 gatherings which are dominated by a spirit of good will and progress, 

 you realize better than words can express the power that this organi- 

 zation may exert in the redirected education of a new agriculture. 



Then again, note the possibility of the rural church in this new 

 order of usefulness. True, the problem of the country church is a 

 complex one with its overly churched communities and inadequately 

 paid ministers. Yet there are those shining examples that show 

 what a power the church can have upon rural life. Such a one is at 

 Xew Lenox, Massachusetts, where the minister has fitted up a large 

 room for members of his congregation and towns-people to gather 

 every other week and listen to addresses and discussions concerning 

 problems local to the section. Good speakers are secured; and so 

 far agriculture has occupied a conspicuous position as several of the 

 professors from the agricultural college have been called upon to 

 give lectures. Through this movement the towns-people have 



