228 A YEAR IN AGRICULTURE 



and that of a man. The sponge is made up of cells each 

 living a separate and independent existence, with little or 

 no cooperation with the rest. It is a form of life poorly 

 organized, and hence low in the scale of development. On 

 the other hand, the body of the man is so highly organized 

 that each cell cooperates with the others, making possible 

 the advanced stage of development we see in the human 

 body. This principle is true of mental life. The little child 

 has not progressed mentally to that stage where he can 

 cooperate with his fellows even in organized play, while the 

 adult, because of larger growth and a more advanced stage 

 of mental development, can cooperate in all forms of human 

 activities. Enough has been said to show that a man or a 

 community that does not cooperate in social activities, that 

 is not able to work in an organized capacity, is in the sponge 

 stage of life, or in the child stage of mental development. 



Our country folks must keep pace with the progress of 

 the century in all its human interests, and one evidence 

 and means of such progress is the cooperation of rural forces 

 in various country life organizations. This evidence of 

 progress is seen now on every side, and country life organiza- 

 tions are forming in every state and county. The agricultural 

 class of the high school would be taking a progressive step 

 to lead in the organization of a Country Life or Agricultural 

 Club in the school, using the plan suggested in the appendix 

 of this book as a basis for organization. Such a club, organ- 

 ized among high-school students who are interested in agri- 

 culture and country life, would afford excellent opportuni- 

 ties for such training as will better fit the boys and girls to 



