256 THE FARMER AND THE NEW DAY 



THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN AGRICULTURE AND 

 COUNTRY LIFE 



We cannot have an adequate rural policy unless we 

 think of American agriculture as in some sort one big 

 farm, with millions of fields, each tilled by a farmer 

 and his family. How can we get all these millions of 

 farmers to work hard, intelligently and continuously, 

 in such a way that the entire American farm will reach 

 its highest possible development? The only method 

 by which this can be even approximated is organization. 

 Organization secures the cooperation of all factors 

 that are necessary or helpful in carrying out a definite 

 purpose. The full organization of American agricul- 

 ture and country life is the largest single item in mak- 

 ing a sound policy effective. How can agriculture be 

 thus organized? 



Each agency or institution devised to assist farmers 

 and farming should work out a clearly marked policy 

 and program. Its particular task in rural improve- 

 ment needs to be defined and recognized. A particu- 

 lar form of organization, as yet not fully utilized in 

 America, is the thorough cooperation of the growers 

 of a particular product, as of cotton growers, wheat 

 growers, stock-breeders, in all parts of their business 

 producing, selling and establishing relationships to 

 other interests or to government. Industrial solidarity 

 seems necessary for greatest cooperative effectiveness. 

 The citrus-fruit growers of California have shown the 

 way to one of the most important and promising meth- 

 ods of agricultural advancement. 



Certain objects or purposes require another group- 

 ing of people and of agencies. The country life move- 

 ment calls for common action by those whose chief in- 



