234 THE FARMER AND THE NEW DAY 



uses the land, but calls for the best possible use of the 

 land, the growing of what consumers want, and the ut- 

 most conservation of fertility. The economic freedom 

 of the soil-tiller is not only the first term in a perma- 

 nently efficient agriculture; it is the unquestioned right 

 of the farmer as a member of society. Any approach 

 to economic bondage is to be deprecated, as is also any 

 arrangement that limits the activities, choices, privi- 

 leges or rewards of farmers, beyond those inherent in a 

 world of fallible men seeking self-interest, but ready to 

 concede a common interest. Ownership of the agricul- 

 tural land by those who work it is preferable to any 

 other plan. But if for any reason such a policy is in- 

 applicable in all cases, there should be organized a sys- 

 tem of leasing by which the tenant receives some of the 

 advantages of ownership as well as of its moral obliga- 

 tions. A tenant should have an opportunity to secure 

 long lease, and should be able legally to gain credit for 

 improvements he has made. The pathway from ten- 

 ancy to ownership should be made easy. There is no 

 permanent place in America for the absentee landlord, 

 even if he be a retired farmer, yet we must not fail to 

 provide a career on the land for the man of superior 

 ability, the large farmer, provided he farms the land he 

 owns. 



For nearly a century the American land policy has 

 been to provide new land for newcomers at a nominal 

 or small cost. The free land of high quality is gone. 

 There are however many millions of acres of dry, wet, 

 sandy and stony lands that can be reclaimed for use. 

 The farmers object to the improvement of this unused 

 land until it is actually needed. It would be well to 

 make accurate and detailed studies of these lands; but 

 no steps should be taken to bring them into competi- 



