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turbed growth and development of the industries and peace 
of our nation, is not receiving the thought or consideration that 
is due from the highest type of statesmanship. 
With these economic conditions affecting large numbers in 
our cities, a new interest has been awakened in land with a 
greater knowledge of the land. Children are being instructed 
in gardening, boys and girls are organizing corn and tomato clubs, 
and are being taught the principles of plant growth. Garden 
clubs are being organized by women, that greater knowledge 
may be obtained of the principles and practice of gardening. 
Schools of horticulture are in operation for the education and 
training of women in horticultural work, while large tracts of 
land are being purchased by capitalists where every line of 
agricultural operation, live stock breeding, gross culture of or- 
chards, and gardening under glass and on broad acres in the 
open are being developed. 
In all of this activity and interest in the ownership of land, 
a greater knowledge of the soil is of the highest importance, for 
upon it lies the basis of success in garden work and of every 
line of production. When the soil had an abundance of virgin 
eae but little knowledge of its constituents was necessary. 
The and main requirement was that of preparing a seed 
bed a planting the seed, when a sixty or a hundred fold in- 
crease was quite certain. A century or more ago, so abundant 
and available was the plant food in most soil in the United 
States that any person with fair intelligence could purchase and 
from its income pay for it in a short time. Land was so certain 
produce income that it was sought as the most desirable and 
security upon which to loan money. At that time no land 
banks and long time loans at a lower rate of interest were neces- 
sary. The most prosperous farmers were the bankers of their 
community and who loaned money to those who needed it. 
In the past half century these conditions have eae the 
soil has become depleted, and has failed to meet the increased 
demands made upon it by our modern civilization. The present 
