THE NEW AGRICULTURE 
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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. 
