THE NEW AGRICULTURE 



199 



to see that these returns are only possible under the well- 

 organized conditions of cooperative farming. The crux of 

 the matter, then, appears to be association with others. 



So, after all, to be a scientist and to stop there is not 

 enough ; one must be an organizer as well. And the simple 

 logic seems to be, either keep close to town, notwithstanding 

 excessive rent, or combine with other producers. Would there 

 not be twofold wisdom in doing both ? 



Turning now from the expert, — the somewhat rare man 

 whose success is practically assured, — let us consider for a 

 moment the average small farmer of to-day and the place he 

 occupies in the community. He is the man we pass on every 

 country road. Let us picture somewhat in detail the life he 

 leads. His farm is somewhat isolated ; he usually owns 

 more land than he can properly cultivate, for he hires little 

 or no help ; its very extent works against his best interest, 

 since he has not the ability really to excel in anything. He 

 trades in the village ; seeds, for example, he will probably buy 

 at retail. In addition to paying high rates he usually ob- 

 tains neither a large choice nor a fresh stock. Thanks, how- 

 ever, to the work of the agricultural stations, where tests 

 are made free of charge, no farmer nowadays need remain 

 in the dark as to the quality of either seed or fertilizer. 

 Next arises the question of implements. These must be 

 suitable for the work proposed, even if they are not the latest 

 inventions, or else, in the midst of the rush season, our 

 friend will be plodding a week at what otherwise could easily 

 be done in a day. The heavy work of a place, such as the 

 teaming of muck and manure and the plowing, always adds 

 greatly to the first cost. Still, for a small farm, — too small 

 a farm, you will probably say, — a man naturally hesitates 

 before indulging in plows and patent planting and weeding 

 machines, new patterns of which are always being advertised. 



