UNDERLYING PROBLEMS 25 



life. We regard it as absolutely essential that 

 this great general work should be understood 

 by all the people. Separate difficulties, important 

 as they are, must be studied and worked out in 

 the light of the greater fundamental problem. 



The Commission has pointed out a number of 

 remedies that are extremely important. But 

 running through all of these remedies are several 

 great forces, or principles, which must be utilized 

 in the endeavor to solve the problems of country 

 life. All the people should recognize what these 

 fundamental forces and agencies are. 



Knowledge. To improve any situation, the 

 underlying facts must be understood. The farmer 

 must have exact knowledge of his business and 

 of the particular conditions under which he 

 works. The United States Department of Agri- 

 culture and the experiment stations and colleges 

 are rapidly acquiring and distributing this knowl- 

 edge; but the farmer may not be able to apply 

 it to the best advantage because of lack of 

 knowledge of his own soils, climate, animal and 

 plant diseases, markets, and other local facts. 

 The farmer is entitled to know what are the 

 advantages and disadvantages of his conditions 

 and environment. A thoroughgoing system of 

 surveys in detail of the exact conditions under- 

 lying farming in every locality is now an indis- 



