20 COMMISSION ON COUNTRY LIFE 



The widespread continuing depletion of 

 soils, with the injurious effect on rural life; 



A general need of new and active leader- 

 ship. 



Other causes contributing to the general result 

 are : Lack of any adequate system of agricultural 

 credit, whereby the farmer may readily secure 

 loans on fair terms; the shortage of labor, a 

 condition that is often complicated by intem- 

 perance among workmen ; lack of institutions and 

 incentives that tie the laboring man to the soil; 

 the burdens and the narrow life of farm women; 

 lack of adequate supervision of public health. 



THE NATURE OP THE REMEDIES. 



Some of the remedies lie with the national 

 Government, some of them with the States and 

 communities in their corporate capacities, some 

 with voluntary organizations, and some with 

 individuals acting alone. From the great number 

 of suggestions that have been made, covering 

 every phase of country life, the Commission now 

 enumerates those that seem to be most funda- 

 mental or most needed at the present time. 



Congress can remove some of the handicaps of 

 the farmer, and it can also set some kinds of work 

 in motion, such as: 



The encouragement of a system of thor- 



