Electricity on the farm

Never in the history of this country has there been such a great arousing of public opinion, such an arousing of interest of the people generally, in the agriculture of the country. We are commencing to appreciate that while in the early years of the past century two-thirds of our people were engaged in the producing business, producing food and clothing for the people, now but one-third are so engaged. And it also seems to be pretty clearly demonstrated that the average earning of the average farmer has netted too small a return for his labor. In many parts of the country, what he did earn was earned at too great a personal sacrifice — labor for long hours and no recreation. Plainly speaking, we have wakened up to the situation that though the yearly crop figures seem to indicate an abundance, we are actually approaching the condition where demand will soon exceed supply, and in most instances the farming business is badly out of gear and needs reorganizing. It has fallen to the lot of the electrical engineer to take a hand in many matters of reorganization, and I believe agriculture now requires his attention.