Originally published in 1911, this work is by the American
horticulturist, and botanist, Liberty Hyde Bailey. He was a keen
advocate of preserving American rural civilisation and as a leader in
the Country Life Movement he promoted the principles of agrarianism in
the tradition of Thomas Jefferson. We are republishing this work with a
brand new introductory biography of the author with an aim to place the
book in context with the achievements of his life. The following passage
is an extract from the opening chapter of this work: 'The country-life
movement is the working out of the desire to make rural civilization as
effective and satisfying as other civilization. It is not an organized
movement proceeding from one center or even expressing one set of ideas.
It is a world-motive to even up society as between country and city; for
it is generally understood that country life has not reached as high
development within its sphere as city life has reached within its
sphere. We call it a new subject. As a "movement," or a recognized set
of problems needing attention, it may possibly be called new; but in
reality it is new only to those who have recently discovered it.'