FARMING THAT IS NOT FARMING 83 



It is a principle that has the utmost significance in all 

 countries where population presses upon available farm- 

 ing areas. This is not " farming " in the ordinary 

 sense of the word; but again it is a highly intelligent 

 and skilled use of the soil for growing things that man 

 wants. We have here a powerful social appeal to 

 people to tie themselves up with a bit of the land for the 

 sake of health and sanity and good influences. 



All this field of farming that is not farming is there- 

 fore sure to broaden. It ought to have the sympa- 

 thetic understanding of the farmers. It is really big 

 with importance for humanity. These things also 

 mean a gradual change of attitude on the part of con- 

 sumers. When they have their own gardens, they will 

 come to know that cabbages come from the land instead 

 of from the grocery. They will know something of 

 the toil and sweat and disappointments of the pro- 

 ducer and of the real costs of production. They will 

 themselves develop more discriminating tastes and will 

 increasingly call for higher quality; and of course the 

 demand for quality in the long run spurs the farmer to 

 his best effort and best profit. On the whole, it will 

 make for a freer consumption, especially of fruits, 

 vegetables and poultry products, which can usually be 

 grown in areas near the market, and a reduction of 

 costs and wastes of transportation, storage and dis- 

 tribution. 



This twilight zone also has a tremendous significance 

 in an educational way. It is working itself gradually 

 into the system of public education, and calls for trained 

 administrators. It promises to send students in largely 

 increasing numbers to the agricultural schools and col- 

 leges. It even means something in the way of quan- 

 tity production and ought thereby to assist in solving 

 the problem of food supply. 



