CHAPTER III 



THE RURAL PROBLEM 



IF, in a group of one hundred men and women, com- 

 posed of leaders in rural affairs officers in farmers' 

 organizations, rural school supervisors, directors of 

 agricultural experiment stations, deans of agricultural 

 colleges, government agricultural officials one were 

 to ask each person the question, " What is the rural 

 problem? " it is probable that there would be no uni- 

 formity of reply. Each answer would in a large meas- 

 ure be influenced by the particular work the individual 

 had in hand, or special difficulties which he had en- 

 countered. A few years ago an official of high stand- 

 ing in the government said that the rural problem in 

 America was " better farming." James J. Hill, a man 

 of masterful mind, concluded apparently that to in- 

 crease the production per acre was the main need of 

 our farming. 



There is, however, no one part of the rural question 

 that overtops all others. Rural improvement consists 

 of many elements, all closely bound together, each af- 

 fecting and influenced by the others. We must try to 

 see the rural problem as a whole. Some years ago in 

 Ireland, Sir Horace Plunkett announced a slogan that 

 helps us to see that the problem of the farmer is big- 

 ger than any one difficulty or need of improvement: 

 : ' Better farming, better business, better living." It 

 might be a little clearer though perhaps no stronger if 



30 



