240 Journal of Agriculture. Victoria. [25 Apkil, 1917. 



It will be seeu that while in Great Britaiu the uumber of live stock 

 has not shown any material increase in the last 25 years, Germany has 

 showii the following increases: — 



Cattle . . 131 per cent, increase, 



Horses . . . . 87 per cent, increase, 



Piga . . . . 279 ;>cr cent, increase, 



though her production of sheep has falh'u off 60 per cent. 



In fact, the value of the increase in live stock in Germany in the 25 

 years was over £300,000,0(10, which increase is greater than the value of 

 the whole of the live stock in Great Britain at the outbreak of war. 



Finally, the test of elhciency of any system of agriculture is its man- 

 carrying capacity per unit of area. What, then, is the relative man- 

 carrying capacity of, say, a 100-acre Gennan and British farm t 



For every 100 acres of cultivated land in England the British farmer 

 grows 15 tons of cereals, 11 tons of potatoes, 17^ tons of milk, 4 tons of 

 meat, and a negligible quantity of sugar. 



For each 100 acres of cultivated land in Germany the German farmer 

 produces 35 tons of cereals, 55 tons of potatoes, 28i tons of milk, 4^ tons 

 of meat, and 2i tons of sugar. 



Finally, the average 100-acre farm in Elngland supports 40-45 people, 

 whilst in Germany the same size farm supports no less than 70-73 

 persons. 



Britain " Speed the Plough " and " Organize Agrictlture." 



The remarkable progress of German agriculture has been brought 

 about by her economic policy, the efficient system of agricultural educa- 

 tion, the technical improvements effected in agricultural methods, and 

 the widespread adoption of systems of co-operation and credit. 



The difference between the carrying capacity of the British and 

 Gerlnan farms is due to the extent to which the plough is used in 

 Germany. The average German farm of 100 acres has 46 acres devoted 

 to cereals, 9 acres to roots and legumes, 10^ acres to potatoes, 2^ acres in 

 fruit, and only 32 acres in grass. In Britain, the average 100-acre farm 

 has no less than 70 acres lying in grass, and only 30 acres devoted to 

 crops. 



The diagram on page 216 illustrates this point forcibly. 



The first great essential for British ])rogress, therefore, is a policy 

 of " speed the plough," and the utilization for cropping purposes of 

 those enormous areas now lying in grass. This will require more capital, 

 more labour, and more equipment to be attracted to agriculture. 



If the British public will stand behind its agriculture, and see that 

 it does not suffer unduly from the competition of cheap land and foreign 

 labour in foreign countries, the capital and equipment necessary for the 

 extension of arable farming will be attracted to agriculture. 



The recent utterances of British statesmen appear to indicate that a 

 permanent change of policy towards agriculture in Britain is imminent. 



The cultivated land of Great Britain is, on the whole, superior to 

 Germany, and the climatic conditions are certainly more favorable for 

 crop production. Britain's scheme of agricultural education is likely 

 to prove effective, but it was commenced 20 years later than Germany's, 

 and what it wants is time to grow. 



If a change in the policy is effected, and the agricultural resources 

 of the country are systematically organized, the British farmer may be 



