THE NEW FARMER. 17 



interests. From the lack of this knowledge he is continually 

 misled by agitators, and often by the ])artisan press. 



It appears, then, that from being a producer and manufac- 

 turer on a small scale for the home market, he has become a 

 producer and mercliant on a large scale for the markets of the 

 world. While once little knowledge would serve him, and 

 that mostly such as his own observation could supply, it is 

 now essential that he be a broadly-educated man, familiar 

 with the conditions affecting his own business in all parts of 

 the world. Henceforward the successful farmers will be only 

 those so educated. If the product of the small farm will not 

 justify the expense of this information — and it will not — there 

 remains but the alternative of the combination of farmers to 

 secure it at the common expense for the benefit of all, or the 

 gradual absorption of the small farms by the strongest, and 

 the extinction of the small farmer, who will sink into the 

 condition of dependent. This process, of course, will not be 

 sudden, but gradual, as the world always moves, beginning 

 with the weakest. 



This conclusion is not to my liking, but I know it to be 

 the opinion of such business men as I have heard express 

 themselves, and I believe it to be the teaching of science and 

 the judgment of all competent to form one. 



