Making Farm Life More Attractive

BY F. S. HARRIS, PH. D., DIRECTOR SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURAL EN- GINEERING AND MECHANIC ARTS, UTAH AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE

That life on the ordinary farm has not been as attractive as it should have been, is evidenced by what might almost be called a stampede of country-bred young men to the city. During the last few decades the relative decrease in population of rural districts and the rapid growth of cities has been conspicuous the world over. If this movement is to be counteracted, the country must offer attractions to balance the advantages found in the modern city; but it is believed that these very much desired attractions in

Photo by F. S. Hams LOCATING AN EXPERIMENTAL DRY-FARM

country life are rapidly being developed. The history of the changes in distribution of population and the causes underlying them is very interesting. Long before man engaged in any other 'form of industry he secured his living from the kind of work now classed as agricul- ture. He gathered the herbs and fruits that were produced in abundance by mother earth, and tended flocks and herds which utilized the forage of the hills in producing food and clothing for him. Indeed, his entire sustenance was derived directly or indi- rectly from the soil. At first there was little or no commerce, and

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each man produced everything that was necessary for the welfare greater complexity in the relations of man with man developed, of himself and family but with the advance in civilization, a ;

The work was gradually divided until separate trades and pro- fessions were developed, with the result that each person be- came more and more depend- ent on the work of others. Farming was then only one of 1?5ff fy&T BO the many kinds of work at B ^BvWl s^BHJ . B^IiJhJ which people earned a living. ^^MR i^ Cities were built, and entire communities depended en- tirely on the outside for prod- ucts of the farm. The between relation rural and the city, districts Photo by F. S. Harris varied somewhat from cen- BEAUTY CAN BE FOUND IN EVERY tury to century, but it was PART OF THE FARM not till within the last two or three generations that a complete readjustment came. With the development of modern methods of transportation and com- munication, and with the invention of improved machines of all kinds, came a revolution in commerce, and, at the same time, a tremendous stimulus was given to city building. The best en- ergies of scientists and builders were given to problems arising from the mass- ing of people into the comparatively small area of a modern city. Many advantages naturally arose from the bringing together of so many people. Families of moderate means were able to Photo bv F S. Harris have water in the house, sewage connec- THE RURAL SCHOOL SHOULD BE GIVEN CAREFUL ATTENTION tions, electric lights and many other conveniences that had not been known in the coun- try districts. Facilities for the education of children were at hand, amusements of all kinds were easily obtained and there was an op- portunity to satisfy the longing for social intercourse which seems so necessary to the happiness of human beings. Of course, many disadvantages were found to accompany city life, but these were

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remedied as nearly as possible by the best thought of the age which was being given to the problems of the city. These great developments in the city were not accompanied by corresponding advances in rural districts, and, as a result, much of the best talent of the country was naturally attracted to centers

Photo by F. S. Harris INTENSIVE FARMING HAS MANY ATTRACTIONS of population where there was an opportunity for greater develop- ment. Even the best farming districts suffered. The rural popu- lation increased but slowly and, in many cases, actually decreased while at the same time the cities grew by leaps and bounds like great mushrooms springing up after a summer shower.

Photo by F. S. Harris INTERURBAN TROLLIES ADD TO THE ATTRACTIVENESS OF COUNTRY LIFE While it is probable that there always will be a movement of — — population cityward and this is doubtless a good thing still, it became evident that a halt must be made somewhere or the farms would be depopulated and the food supply of the world shut off. This state of affairs turned the attention of scholars and statesmen toward the country to see what could be done to keep more people

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on the land. An investigation revealed the fact that if rural dis- tricts are to maintain the position which the welfare of mankind demands, more attention must be given to the solution of rural problems. The city will probably never be a less important factor in civilization than it is today, but the country must also be given

Photos by F. S. Harris

The work of Agricultural Experiment Great irrigation works transform the Stations is of great service to farmers. deserts into happy homes.

Pumping water will add to the num- Scattered and poorly arranged build- ber of farm homes that can be made in ings add greatly to the farm chores, arid regions.

Cement is of great service to the Neatness of the farm yard adds to the farmer. attractiveness of the farm.

a hearing; and those who' live on the land and cause the soil to produce of its bounties, must be taken care of as well. They must have equal opportunities with those living in populous centers. There are at present a number of forces at work which will help to make life on the farm more attractive and overcome many of its disadvantages. Some of these forces are just be- ginning their operation while others have been working for some

J»J IMPROVEMENT ERA time. Probably the greatest single factor working toward rural betterment, is the wave in favor of rational education which is being felt in every country district. The conviction is gradually becoming more firmly fixed in the minds of country folk, that what they want is an education suited to the environment in which they are to live. They are not so much interested in the culture that would make them good citizens of Paris or London, as in the information needed by tillers of the soil, living in an age of civiliza- tion and desiring to fill their proper places in that civilization. They want to know how to do their work in an up-to-date manner, and at the same time they wish to be intelligent citizens of the community, realizing the joys of life and contributing something

Photo by F. S. Harris THE COUNTY AGRICULTURAL ADVISOR WILL BE OF GREAT PRACTICAL VALUE TO THE FARMER to the welfare of mankind. The education, therefore, that is to improve rural life, is not the kind that will make the farmer dis- satisfied with his lot and anxious to change his conditions but the ;

kind that will give him a better understanding of his high and noble calling and make him a more effective unit in his own branch of society. The day of this kind of education has dawned, and it is to be hoped that the rays of its energizing sun will rapidly penetrate even the remote corners of the open country till the inhabitants thereof may be lighted with a newness of life in the commonplace occupations which were previously held in low repute. Wonders are also being worked by the introduction of modern business methods on the farm and the use of suitable methods of cost accounting in finding the profits and losses. Farming as an

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up-to-date business, where every department is given careful study, is an entirely different thing from what it was when conducted by

the old slip-shod method of simply raising crops and live stock after the manner of previous generations. Business methods in farming not only lead to better ways of doing things on the indi- vidual farm, but they help to promote co-operation among farmers for mutual helpfulness in buying, selling and conducting all neces- sary transactions. In the past, one of the greatest disadvantages of farm life has Seen the isolation accompanying it when working in the field, the :

farmer is constantly interested in his crops and stock and does not become so lonesome as his wife who is at home all day. The lack

Photos by F. S. Harris A class of students studying agricul- A farm house of this type cannot at- ture in the field. tract young people very strongly. The lack of neatness is conspicuous.

The beginnings of a farm home. The farm is a home, and a good house Neatness is seen everywhere. is as necessary on the farm as in the city.

of association, however, can not help having its effects even on the farmer. A number of comparatively recent inventions and de- velopments have done much to overcome the disadvantages accom- panying isolation. The rural free delivery of mail makes it possi- ble for the man in the country to get his papers and letters each day just the same as those living in the city. He is thereby able to keep in much closer touch with the world than when the mail was obtained only at irregular periods when trips to town were necessary. The parcels post in connection with the mail service means much to the people living in rural districts, since it enables them to get many commodities that could not previously be had

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except at a very high cost. It may also be used as a medium of

profitable marketing. The value of rural telephones to people living in the country can hardly be overestimated. Not only is the work of the farmer greatly helped by this convenience, but his wife and children are made more contented, as they have at their disposal constant means of communication with friends at some distance away. Young- people long for the society of other young people, and the telephone enables them in part to satisfy this longing without leaving the farm. The building of interurban trolley lines, the making of good roads, and the use of the automobiles all help to reduce the effects of distance, and place the isolated farmer in closer communication with other people, thus lessen- ing the undesirable features of country life. With the trolley or automobile it is possible in a comparatively short time to call on a neighbor, to attend church or a social, or to make a trip to the city. Many little conveniences such as the cream separator, the gasoline engine and the

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S. Harris I- . 111 electric motor all tend to re- move the drudgery fromr r farm GOOD HORSES ADD GREATLY TO THEijr u T ne P ro nrnnpr rnmtrnr- attractiveness of the farm n ie . - i P er construc- tion and arrangement of buildings help to reduce the almost endless number of chores always found on a farm and the use of cement and other suit- ;

able materials makes the farm home a much more attractive and sanitary place than it used to be. There are very many little devices that can be used about the farm to reduce the work and make it more pleasant. These many conveniences have been slow to reach the farm, but their adoption in the future means a great lightening of the burdens of the farmer and his wife. Although the man on the land has been almost forgotten in this age of rapid city building, yet he is destined to come into his own in the very near future. The new discoveries in agriculture science, the introduction of an educational system suited to rural needs, the adoption of better business methods, the improvement in means of communication and transportation, and the conve- niences that can now be had in farm homes will all contribute toward making farm life more attractive in the future than it has ever been in the past. When these forces have had time to fully operate, a transformation in all the aspects of country life may be expected. LOGAN, UTAH