The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1907-06-19

AMERICAN FARMERS Call uSVSlOp 10 the
full their economic and social power"
The new thing in President Roose-
velt's speech-and it is most i'm
portant new thing-was his declaration
for a broader policy on the part of
the National and State Departments
of Agriculture. His own language
will best give his meaning:
"But great as it's services have been
in the past, this Department of Agri-
culture has a still larger field of use
fulness ahead. 1t must hereafter deal
also with living men. Hitherto agri-
cultural research, instruction and agita-
ton have been directed almost ex-
c1usively toward the production of
wealth from the soil. It is time to
adopt in addition new point of view
Hereafter another great task before
the acknowledgements of Agriculture
and the similar agencies Of the various
States must be to foster agriculture
for it's social results, on in other words,
to assist in bringing about the best
kind of life on the farm for the sake
OF producing the best kind of men,"
/ 1t is unnecessary to say that with
this position of the President we agree
heartily. It has been a conception Of
this sort which has distinguished the
| Progressive Farmer from all other
farm papers, Other agricultural jour-
mails have been content merely to tell
the farmer how to ferti1ize wheat and
how to make bigger yields of corn;
we have gone further, and, without
neglecting the side of production, we
have sought just as earnestly to slim
| ulate interest in better schools, better
roads, rural mail delivery, rural te1e-
lphones, more beautiful farm homes,
and in everything that makes farm life
sWeeter and happier For the true
aim must be to make broader lives
as we'll as acres; fuller minds as we'll
as fuller barns; greater happiness as
we'll as greater profits. Let the Ma
tional Department. of Agriculture now
turn its tremendous energies into this
new channel, and the good that will
result will be of incalculable value
It striking fashion did President
Roosevelt state the case when he de-
c1ared:
1--WE hope ultimately to double the
average yield Of wheat-an important
achievement; but it is even more i'm
portant to double the desirability,
comfort and standing of the farmers
life.
1--WE must consider, then, not mere
ly how to produce, but also how pro-
duction effects the producer In the
past we have given but scant attention
to the social side of farm life. We
should study much more closely than
has yet been done the social organiza-
ton Of the country, and inquire whe-
Their it's institutions are now really as
useful to the farmer as they should
be, or whether they should not be
given new direction and a new i'm
pulse, for no farmers life should lie
merely within the boundary of its
farm
Important have been many of Pres
ident Roosevelt's services to the ma
ton, when we consider how many
millions Of people would be affected
by such a movement, as is here sug-
gested, it is certainly not too much
to say that it would be one of his half
dozen greatest achievements if he
should set the Nation-gird1ing forces
of the National Department of Agri-
culture to work upon these new tasks
of social service The farmers of the
country should join him at this psy-
Geological moment in urging it's i'm
pOrtance.
In concluding his speech, President
Roosevelt came to another question
which is a sort of hobby with the
Progressive Farmer-the important
part played by the farmers wife in
the. work of the farm and the full
recognition of her services and her
position which should be given her.
Oh. the manv and nlanv q hard=handed