THE RURAL PROBLEM 45 



a burning question but is not unimportant. Why can 

 not farmers utilize their surplus when they have it, 

 for the building up of the community in which they 

 live? 



IV. 



1. The Farm and its Equipment. It would be very 

 helpful to have a standardization of farms on the basis 

 of the most economic type and size of farm and the 

 amount of capital and equipment in stock and machin- 

 ery needed to operate the farm to best advantage. 



2. The Permanent Improvement of the Farm. 

 How can the farmer best secure a gradual improve- 

 ment of his stock, complete a system of under drainage, 

 provide economic but adequate and convenient build- 

 ings, and utilize labor-saving devices? 



3. Bookkeeping and Accounting. There is great 

 need of adequate records and accounts simplified so that 

 the average farmer can follow the plan. There are 

 really two problems, one that of accurate business 

 accounts and the other that of proper records which 

 when interpreted will help the farmer to adjust his 

 methods of management to the securing of greater 

 economies of time and labor. 



4. The Use of Labor. How may labor be secured 

 at any price and how retained? One of the big ques- 

 tions is how to employ during the winter months farm 

 labor needed only during the growing season, in order 

 that labor may be satisfied and be available more con- 

 tinuously for the farmer. 



