Show it should and doubtless docs go without saying that david better apt rpt harrap off on CT franklin ral ilin lJ houston see secretary reary of V 11 ali agriculture is interested deeply the jl farm in m the 10 solution bobon of the 0 o pT problem of how to keep tile tho young men of tho ilia country on the fann r houston liko like many others an Int interview elview WM with secretary ol of A agriculture itu rc I 1 11 I 1 who i i have careful i i i da F houstee by edwana r a a lk given study 11 to tile the situation declares that 1 ii J 1 tile cry should not bo be bock back tc ic the farm but stay on tho the farm fann the belief of all tile tho government students of agricultural conditions in tile united states is that if the forming farming industry be made increasingly profitable and that if conditions of farm fann life be bettered the back to ilia farm movement will tako care of itself in III other words the magnet will bo be on ilia farm and it will draw to itself the dwellers in the cities who are arc ambitious to better their condition secretary houston was asked by your correspondent to give a message to those who are engaged in A comprehensive plan to show tile alio boys of the r communities that it is adai advisable anble to stay on oil tile form farm instead of leaving it to go to the hurly burly and uncertainty of city life mr houston spoke feelingly on tile the subject ila ho combined a statement of what is being done by the federal and state governments to give the farming lifo life holding li qualities with a message me on the growing op opportunities ort unities for young men to bild lild e a signal success of agricultural occupations it is not on en much a problem of bringing young men back to ilia farin its as it is one of so improving agricultural conditions and rural life us as to make inake it clear to we alfo young men that they will bo be better oft off in the long run by bj staying where they are arc than by going elsewhere the great problem confronting the nation is liow low to make agriculture prof profitable and the rural life comfortable attractive attract ivo and lical healthful if wo we successfully attack that problem we shall bo be relieved of the necessity of talking so BO much about staying on oil ilia farm or of going back to the farni farm all the efforts of land grant colleges and of this department are directed to this end ilie agencies are ry becoming consolidated in the extent find and effi efficiency clelley of machinery slid and financial support has been forthcoming from tho the states and the nation which combined are arc spen spending aing at present a year through tho the land grant colleges and ilia state und and federal departments of agriculture for the improvement of agricultural and rural life tile the aim is to increase production through plant and animal breeding better cultural methods eradication or control of plant and animal diseases which are costing hundreds of millions a year to study newer I 1 problems rob lems in agriculture to improve distribution especially marketing find to develop community operation cooperation co and teamwork with a view to tile better standardization and handling of products and a fuller knowledge of markets and market conditions and tho the transportation of products in short a better organization of rural life in tile the interest of the young peo people we are arc organizing alarae number of agricultural clubs canning clubs poultry clubs corn corli clubs clubs and so on the work is being pro promoted muted by the demonstration force now a operative cooperative co machinery under the joint support of land grant colleges and th federal department in many counties throughout tho country there are county agents whose duty it is to work with the farmers on the forms for the improvement of agricultural cc conditions as they affect production and distribution under tho the smith lever act the states and the nation together will be expending in seven save n years yearly for this extension of agricultural education it seems reasonably clear with tho the natural opportunities we have and with the improvements ladeby tho the farmers supplementing these agencies that tho opportunities for young men to make a success in in farming will be increased gradually and that now outside of the actual business of farming there is is a loud call for leaders of all these enterprises in rural districts 1 I see no reason why an aspiring country boy should not direct his attention to tho the opportunities presented in this great field of effort rather than to those of the other industrial offerings presented by city life secretary houston spoke strongly of three factors of th the problem of how to keep young men on tho ilia farm they are good rural schools first class country roads roada and a more attractive social life schools and a brightening of the social lifo life are arc wholly state and community problems in tho the matter of ilia improvement of roads the federal government lias has a boico ond and power tho the secretary has a heartfelt interest in the solution of ilia rural school problem he believes as others believe with him that ilia boy and girl in the country should have the same opportunities for education that are given to the boy and girl of the city the lack of proper educational facilities in country districts lie ho believes has sent many ambitious parents away from the farms to the cities in order to give their children the addan which the schools of the large ce centers liters afford |