CONTENTS 



CHAPTER I. 



Page 



DKPI.KTION OK RTKAL POPULATION 19 



The first, or physical dimension, numerical diminution 

 of population. The second dimension, social strain. 

 The third dimension, moral danger. Bearing of the 

 situation on the church. Relation of the church to 

 the problem. 



CHAPTER II. 



Economic Causes of Depletion 57 



Decay of village crafts. The modern industrial 

 system. Loss of village commerce. The revolution in 

 husbandry. Increased cost of living. Agricultural 

 base insufficient. Forestry and agriculture. The 

 crime of exploitation. Conservation of soil fertility 

 neglected. Unscientific husbandry. Lack of modern 

 business methods. Economic burdens. Lack of credit. 

 Uneconomic taxation. 



CHAPTER III. 



Economic Solutions of tue Pboblem 95 



Relative standing of the art of agriculture. All lands 

 to be put to their best use. Forestry. Orcharding. 

 The moral implicate. Conservation of fertility. The 

 ethical prerequisite. Adaptation of farm practice to 

 scientific methods of agriculture. The underlying per- 

 sonal problem. Adaptation of farm practice to methods 

 of modern business. Co-operation. Legislation requis- 

 ite. The moral difficulty underlying the economic one. 

 Rural credit systems. 



CHAPTER IV. 



Social Causes of Unbe.st 123 



The problem fundamentally one of appreciation of life. 

 The conditions of labor unsatisfactory. The country 

 lacking In means of social life. Lacking In healthful 

 recreation. In means of education for country life. 

 Lack of appreciation of country values. In commun- 

 ity ideals. In the new(?r ethical Implications of reli- 

 gion 



