THE COUNTRY CHURCH PROGRAM.ME 181 



tained a university. She might as legitimately main- 

 tain an agricultural college if the nation should fail to 

 do so. The same branch of the church teaches the Bhils 

 in India how to farm. Under stress of circumstances 

 she might do so elsewhere. 



There are no heathen oaks, no Gentile pines, 

 The soil whereon we stand is Christian soil. 



Should she teach men here how to gi'ow better cabbages ? 

 She need not. But she should teach men everywhere 

 and always that it is their duty to grow bettor cabbages. 

 Each of (lur Provinces provides most helpful agencies 

 of agricultural improvement; it is for the church to 

 deal with the moral prerequisites of better husbandry, 

 and hold out the In'tter resultant life as an incentive. 



If husbandry, anijjjitied l»y reclamation, perpetuated 

 by conservation, fostered bv science, raav become all 

 that vve have seen possible when the whole wide world 

 shall become a garden, what of the Edenic life obtain- 

 able there i " (Jod's partner in making the new earth " 

 is Dr. RoJK'rtson's definition of the young modern 

 farmer, and he gives thereby a glimpse into the inex- 

 haustible life attainable by country people, who despite 

 every wasting force are still the wellspring of national 

 strength. 



We should remind our people that as the farmer ol" 

 tf>-day has risen far alM)ve the status of ihe past, so 

 further advance is thereby nuide still nnu-e jtossible; as 

 machinery has already lightened (oil, its further ser- 

 vices may Ix; yet more significant; as the t(lej)li(»ne, 

 mail-delivery and other agencies are now enriching riinil 

 life, other and finer facilities are practieabN'. W' 

 should speak of what education might do in a merely 



