42 THE FARMER AND THE NEW DAY 



more farm work than formerly; how to use boy labor 

 without sacrifice of education; the relations of farmers 

 to farm labor organizations; and how to encourage 

 the farm laborer to become eventually a farm owner. 



6. The Control of Materials and Power. Com- 

 mercial interests have served the farmer reasonably 

 well in supplying seeds, fertilizer, stock feeds, machin- 

 ery, but only to a small extent in supplying power. The 

 government will probably have to intervene in es- 

 tablishing a democratic use of water power for the 

 making of electricity. Farmers, however, will need 

 to cooperate much more freely than now in the pur- 

 chase of power, as well as of their other supplies. 



II. THE PROBLEM OF IMPROVEMENT OF FARM PRAC- 

 TICE, OR THE PRODUCTION OF CROPS 

 AND ANIMALS 



1. Improvement of the Soil. This means securing 

 greater depth of soil; more complete friability; more 

 adequate control of water in the soil; proper adapta- 

 tion of special crops to special soils; prevention of plant 

 food waste and erosion; and in general, the question 

 of permanent fertility. 



2. The Improvement of Crops, by getting the great- 

 est possible yields; improving the quality and food or 

 feed value; securing disease and drouth resistant vari- 

 eties. 



3. The Improvement of Animals in size, quality, 

 temperament, healthiness, etc. 



III. IMPROVEMENTS IN FARM MANAGEMENT AND 

 FARM BUSINESS 



I. The Purchase of Supplies. It is only by col- 

 lective or cooperative purchase of supplies and equip- 



