ity. Measured by consequences, Heaven has vouchsafed no form of
stewardship that is fraught with such tremendous responsibilities as
this stewardship of the soil. In the final analysis this stewardship
represents the farmer's obligation to society.

And yet sacred as is the soil and binding as is the farmer's obligation
to society, the means for providing the world's food is nevertheless at
his mercy.

It is a well-known fact that the soil can readily be depleted of its
fertility and thus robbed of its strength by a system of exploitation,
commonly referred to as "extensive farming." Too much of our land is
being thus exploited. On the other hand the productiveness of the soil
may be very greatly improved. Denmark, Belgium, Germany, and other
European nations have fully demonstrated, that by the application of
science to the art of agriculture, the productiveness of the soil can be
multiplied almost to the limit of necessity.

_A Progressive Agriculture._ Fortunately Nature has supplied every means
for the development of a progressive and permanent agriculture. It is
also obvious that it is man's privilege, if not his mission, to improve
upon Nature--to substitute quality for mere physical endurance, in
agricultural products.

By the grace of Providence the individuals of the animal and vegetable
kingdoms were not created inflexible in habit or perfect in form, but
they may be changed in character and quality and intrinsic worth at the
will of the intelligent and observing farmer. To this end agricultural
education lends its beneficent influence. Man's dominion over Nature
would be such in name only were it not for the class-room and the
laboratory, for research and investigation; for by these means
scientific knowledge is obtained and diffused and eventually brought to
bear upon the solution of the most vital problems that concern the human
family. These problems center largely around food and clothing. To
supply these necessities an industry is created--the business of
agriculture--the most important industry in all the world. An industry
of such fundamental importance, moreover, should receive from the states
and from the federal government financial consideration in proportion to
its moral and economic importance as well as to the probabilities that
may be entertained for its continued improvement. For abundant as are
earth's natural resources, yet without the aid and direction of human
intelligence they could n