8o CHAPTERS IN RURAL PROGRESS 



of his same social rank. He therefore needs a 

 good general education. He is more than mere 

 farmer. While as farmer he must connect his 

 business with its environment and out of his 

 surroundings gain sound culture; while he 

 should know nature, not only as its master, but 

 as its friend; he should also be in sympathy 

 with all that makes modern civilization worth 

 while. And even as mere farmer, he finds him- 

 self face to face with grave social problems. 

 He must not only produce but he must sell, 

 and his selling powers are governed by condi- 

 tions of the market, by transportation facilities 

 and practices, and are affected by the laws of 

 the land. Hence he must be a student of these 

 problems and must know the broad phases of 

 agriculture and its relations to other industries. 

 No intelligent man doubts the need of agri- 

 cultural education. Let us, then, say a word 

 about the kind of education demanded. This 

 question is settled very largely by the discussion 

 we have just had about the need of this educa- 

 tion. First of all, this education will give a fair 

 mastery of the principles that govern proper 

 soil management and plant and animal growth. 

 This is fundamental. The farmer is dealing 

 with natural laws, and he must know in them 



