502 RURAL SOCIOLOGY 



ests have served the farmer reasonably well in supplying seeds, 

 fertilizer, stock feeds, machinery, but only to a small extent in 

 supplying power. The government will probably have to inter- 

 vene in establishing a democratic use of water power for the 

 making of electricity. Farmers, however, will need to cooperate 

 much more freely than now in the purchase of power, as well as 

 of their other supplies. 



II. THE PROBLEM OF IMPROVEMENT OF FARM PRACTICE, OR THE 



PRODUCTION OF CROPS AND ANIMALS 



1. Improvement of the Soil. This means securing greater 

 depth of soil; more complete friability; more adequate control 

 of water in the soil ; proper adaptation of special crops to special 

 soils; prevention of plant food waste and erosion; and in gen- 

 eral, the question of permanent fertility. 



2. The Improvement of Crops, by getting the greatest possible 

 yields; improving the quality and food or feed value; securing 

 disease and drouth resistant varieties. 



3. The Improvement of Animals in size, quality, temperament, 

 healthiness, etc. 



III. IMPROVEMENTS IN FARM MANAGEMENT AND FARM BUSINESS 



1. The Purchase of Supplies. It is only by collective or co- 

 operative purchase of supplies and equipment that farmers can 

 get the best prices and terms. So long as the individual farmer 

 buys his supplies at a disadvantage, he is economically handi- 

 capped. 



2. Standardizing the Product. The greatest single difficulty 

 which the individual farmer faces is due in part to the wide 

 variety of crops grown in a given locality and to a great vari- 

 ation in quality. The remedy in general lies in inducing farm 

 communities to produce fewer things, to produce those for 

 which the region is particularly adopted, and then through 

 cooperation, to secure proper grading, careful and honest pack- 

 ing, and wherever feasible, proper labeling. 



3. In the Transportation of Products. Good roads and the 

 motor truck will play a rapidly increasing part in initial trans- 

 portation. Rural trolleys will help to a growing extent. The 

 main dependence for standard crops is the railway system. One 

 of the most important reforms is the adjustment of freight rates 



