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can be connected up with the farms. Hence the {"arm Bureau and County 

 Agent as a topic for this morning's session. 



But in addition to getting helpful information to the men who knew 

 they required it, how about the still larger number who didn't know they 

 needed it or lacked initiative to make some effort to get it? 



And by way almost of interpolation at this point, the query made by 

 some is. Why should such efforts be made to get information to people 

 who have not gumption enough to try to get it for themselves? Let them 

 go. Why should such backward fellows be helped or pursued? The 

 answer to that, expressed in the lowest, most primitive terms is — it is not 

 done for the benefit of those individuals but because the world must he 

 fed — and that means you and me. And until we reach ideal farming, we 

 must work with what we have that you and I will not starve during the 

 period of reconstruction. 



I hasten to say I do not subscribe to that answer as completely cover- 

 ing the reason, but it is an answer to ''carping critics" or ''knockers," 

 whether the "knocker" is farmer or city-dweller, and some are found both 

 in country and city. The opinion I have formed of the actual workers 

 in this field of rural regeneration is of the highest — as a class or profession, 

 their disinterested, unselfish work is quite equal indeed to the spirit animat- 

 ing our clergy missionaries, and I am extremely glad to have this oppor- 

 tunity to pay my humble compliments to them. 



But to return to the programme. I have indicated that the Farm 

 Bureau brings the city into direct relations with the country — the method 

 for so doing will be explained to you by an expert later on. And I am very 

 proud that the expert is a Pennsylvania man who has evolved ingenious, 

 original and, of course best of all, absolutely practical plans. 



By referring to the developing of plans to reach the individual farm 

 with such a bureau or organization, you should know that there are many - 

 other kinds of development required and many plans proposed. It has 

 therefore become necessary in a territory so large as the United States 

 to collect and study in a central place their many lines — hence its title, 

 the Rural Organization Service. And the chief of that new work we are 

 to have the pleasure of listening to and hearing at first hand somewhat 

 of his plans. 



Pure seed, true to type, is a matter of fundamental importance. The 

 man who devotes himself to the improvement of seed through breeding 

 is therefore serving mankind (which I would remind ourselves — means 

 serving you and me) very directly and we will be privileged to hear (again 

 at first hand) from one who is of the highest authority and a practical 

 and scientific worker of the first rank, and who has paid us the honor of 

 coming more than a thousand miles to fulfil his acceptance of our invita- 

 tion. His address will add greatly to the value of our conference. 



I believe that the Farm Bureau and its County Agent is destined to 

 be the principal avenue for the rapid introduction of guaranteed true to 



