54 THE FARMER AND THE NEW DAY 



ductive, whereas it has become less productive in many 

 regions. Of course the good farmer has the same in- 

 terest in keeping up production, but many farmers do 

 not see it. They want immediate results. Clearly we 

 need an adjustment that results both in that use of the 

 land which gives a fair return to the farmer, and that 

 use which preserves its fertility undiminished for future 

 generations. 



Sharing the Savings. Both farmers and consumers 

 would like to abolish the middleman's profits. The 

 farmer rather expects to get most of the profits which 

 the middleman has made, and the consumer, oddly 

 enough, has the same ambition. Both cannot succeed. 

 This tendency shows itself in a public market where 

 householders buy of farmers. Each wants to get the 

 best bargain possible. What eventually happens is 

 probably a pretty fair trade, both getting some ad- 

 vantage in this matter. This principle holds in the 

 whole field of soil distribution. If economies of dis- 

 tribution are effected, who is to get the benefit con- 

 sumer or producer? Both! It is a matter of adjust- 

 ment. The answer lies in establishing fair trade. 



Agriculture and Other Business. Agriculture is our 

 greatest business and yet it is often left out of account in 

 plans for possible development. But its relation to 

 manufacturing, to transportation, to commerce and 

 even to finance is very close and even vital. Imagine if 

 you can the farm lands of America lying unproductive 

 for a single year. Moreover, it is clear that if these 

 relationships of agriculture to other industries are so 

 close, competing interests will show themselves. Inas- 

 much as these industries are well organized and agricul- 

 ture is poorly organized, the farmers are apt to be the 



