THE COUNTRY-LIFE MOVEMENT
Pages 1-3
It is not a back-to-the-land movement, 1 —This book, 2.
THE NATIONAL MOVEMENT
Pages 4-13
A transition period, 6 —The Commission on Country Life, 7—The three fundamental recommendations of the Commission, 9—A national conference of country life, 12 —A voluntary movement, 12—The international phase, 13.
SOME INTERRELATIONS OF CITY AND COUNTRY
Pages 14-30
Some contrasts of town folk and country folk, 14—Comparisons of town and country affairs, 16—The two minds, 17—Will the American farmer hold his own? 19—The first two remedies, 21—Movement from city to country as remedy, 23—Sending the surplus population to the country, 25—Back-to-the-village, 26—Can a city man make a living on a farm? 27—What the city may do, 30.
THE DECLINE IN RURAL POPULATION.—ABANDONED FARMS
Pages 31-43
Significance of the decline, 32—The abandoned farms, 37—The new farming, 41.
RECLAMATION IN RELATION TO COUNTRY LIFE; AND THE RESERVE LANDS
Pages 44-54
The interests of society in the work, 45—A broad reclamation movement, 50—Supplemental irrigation, 51—We need reserves, 53.
WHAT IS TO BE THE OUTCOME OF OUR INDUSTRIAL CIVILIZATION?
Pages 55-60
(1) The making of a new society, 56—(2) The fighting edge, 57.
THE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION IN AMERICAN COUNTRY LIFE
Pages 61-84
Agriculture in the public schools, 62 —The American contribution, 65— The dangers in the situation, 66—[Pg ix] The present educational institutions, 68 —The need of plans to coÖrdinate this educational work, 71 —Outline of a state plan, 72—A state extension program, 75 —Special local schools for agriculture, 76 —The lessons of experience, 79.
WOMAN'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE COUNTRY-LIFE MOVEMENT
Pages 85-96
The affairs of the household, 88 —The affairs of the community, 90—The woman's outlook, 92—The means of education, 93.
HOW SHALL WE SECURE COMMUNITY LIFE IN THE OPEN COUNTRY?
Pages 97-133
Hamlet life, 100— The category of agencies, 104 (increase of population, 105; dividing up of large farms, 106; assembling farms, 106; recreative life, 107; local politics, 108; rural government, 108; community program for health, 112; local factories and industries, 116; the country store, 118; the business men's organizations, 119; great corporations, 120; local institutions, 122; local rural press, 123; many kinds of extension teaching, 123; all kinds of communication, 124; economic or business coÖperation, 125; personal gumption and guidance, 132)— Community interest is of the spirit, 133.
A POINT OF VIEW ON THE LABOR PROBLEM
Pages 134-148
Reasons for the labor question, 135 —The remedies, 137—Public or social bearings, 139—Supervision in farm labor, 142—What is the farmer to do? 146.
THE MIDDLEMAN QUESTION
Pages 149-164
Farmer does not get his share, 149 —Relation of the question to cost-of-living, 153—The farmer's part, 156—The middleman's part, 157—A system of economic waste, 158—CoÖperation of farmers will not solve it, 158—It is the business of government, 160—Must be a continuing process of control, 161.
COUNTY AND LOCAL FAIRS
Pages 165-177
Nature of the fair, 165—Features to be eliminated, 167— Constructive program, 167—The financial support, 168—An educational basis, 169—Ask every person to prove up, 171—Sports, contests, and pageants, 173—Premiums, 174—It is time to begin, 175—The fair ground, 176—My plea, 177.
THE COUNTRY-LIFE PHASE OF CONSERVATION
Pages 178-200
These subjects have a history, 180—They are not party-politics subjects, 182—The soil is the greatest of all resources, 183—The soil crust, 185—No man has a right to plunder the soil, 188—Ownership vs. conservation, 190—The philosophy of saving, 192—The conservation of food, 194—The best husbandry is not in the new regions, 196—Another philosophy of agriculture, 197—The obligation of the farmer, 198—The obligation of the conservation movement, 200.
PERSONAL SUGGESTIONS
Pages 201-220
The open country must solve its own problems, 201—Profitable farming is not a sufficient object in life, 202—New country professions, 203—The personal resources, 204—The meaning of the environment, 205—Historic monuments, 208—Improvement societies, 209—Entertainment, 211 (Music spirit, 212; drama, 213)—The business of farming, 217.
