CHAPTER XXIX 

 THE SOCIAL SIDE OF FARM LIFE 1 



THE growth of national wealth makes possible improvements 

 in the conditions of life in the farm home and in the rural com- 

 munity. The tendency has been for the various modern con- 

 veniences to be introduced more slowly in the homes of the 

 farmers and in the social life of the rural communities than in the 

 more densely populated centers. This is true partly because of 

 the greater opportunity for human contact in the cities than 

 in the country, partly due to the fact that some of the city 

 conveniences can be provided more economically on a large than 

 on a small scale, and partly to the fact that farmers who have 

 been prosperous and gained a competence have too often given 

 their attention to buying more land rather than to the im- 

 provement of the conditions of life in the home and in the 

 social group. 



Leaders like Sir Horace Plunkett have emphasized that with 

 " better farming and better business " should go " better liv- 

 ing." The natural opportunities for a full life are better in the 

 country than in the city. It is now practicable to bring into the 

 rural homes the conveniences which make for comfort. The 

 possibility of organizing social life in the country in a satisfactory 

 manner has been demonstrated by many communities. 



In order that greater progress may be made in bringing about 

 conditions of " better living " in the country the conditions of 

 farm life are being studied with a view to helping farmers in 

 their efforts to reach out for the better things of life. 



Rural hope. The progress of the land worker up the ladder 

 of financial independence is marked by a continual struggle on his 



1 This chapter was prepared especially for this book by Dr. J. C. Galpin and 

 Miss E. J. Hoag. 



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