26 THE LARGER ASPECTS OF FARM LIFE. 



the farm the ranks of the prosperous are being constantly 

 recruited; tlie drift of our best into the cities is notorious; 

 farm boys make the best records in school and in college. 

 Their mother earth has given them the vigor which is the 

 foundation and the means of all progress. We have, then, as 

 farmers, the basis of success in the physical strength which 

 makes success possible, and yet we are falling beliind in the 

 race. We have the earth, and are frittering it away. 



It would be worse than useless to write in this strain if our 

 condition was such as to admit of no remedy. If we are 

 doomed, it is better not to know it; but if we are merely in 

 danger, he who points it out is indeed a benefactor. Certainly 

 the position of agriculture is not in danger; those who control 

 the sources of sustenance may laugh at all Others. But the 

 question is. Who shall control them? It is the hope of man- 

 kind that they shall continue to be controlled by the class of 

 small farmers who have tlius far been the producers, and not 

 be delivered over, like the other classes of mankind, to be 

 exploited by Captains of Industry; nor do I believe this a 

 vain hope. But it is certainly worth while, if possible, to 

 discover and set forth the causes why the farmer of to-day is 

 less happy than the farmer of former days, that w^e may see 

 how, if in any way, those causes may be removed, and the 

 farmer be enabled to regain his earlier position. If we can 

 once be made to see plainly tlie road by whicli we passed 

 from prosperity to misfortune, we may find it such that we 

 can retrace our steps upon it. We may be sure of one thing, 

 — that if the American farmer was ever prosperous and 

 ])appy it was because at the time he had all the knowledge 

 which he needed <to maintain his power of survival. Wliat 

 our investigation should disclose is wdiy he has not now that 

 knowledge, whether he can regain it, and, if so, how. 



What has been said is, perhaps, sufficient to indicate why 

 wo have fallen behind in the race, and the opinion of the 

 present writer, at least, of our power to regain our position, 

 which lies in the possession of physical strength. What 

 chiefly concerns us is the exact method by whicii this may 

 be accomplished. There can be but one way. Wo must know 



