XXVI REOCCUPATION OF THE LAND 485 



portions of the land, while all the solid refuse and 

 manurial matter would be applied to the higher portions. 

 Here would be the first great economy, both in wealth 

 and health. Every particle of sewage and refuse would 

 be immediately returned to the land, where, under the 

 beneficent action of the chemistry of nature, it would be 

 again converted into wholesome food and other products. 



Another economy, of vast amount but difficult to 

 estimate, would arise from the whole effective population 

 being available to secure the crops when at their 

 maximum productiveness. Who has not seen, during 

 wet seasons, hay lying in the fields week after week till 

 greatly deteriorated or completely spoilt ; shocks of wheat 

 sprouting and ruined ; fruit rotting on the ground ; 

 growing crops choked with weeds, all involving loss to 

 the amount of many millions annually, and all due to 

 the capitalistic system which has led to the overcrowding 

 of the towns and the depopulation of the rural districts. 

 But this is only a portion of the loss from deficiency of 

 labour at the critical moment. Agricultural chemists 

 know that, even in good seasons, a considerable portion of 

 the nutritious qualities of hay is lost by the cutting of 

 the grass being delayed a few weeks, owing to uncertain 

 weather, the pressure of other work, or a deficiency of 

 labour. The critical moment is when the grass is in flower. 

 Every day later it deteriorates ; and in our self-supporting 

 colonies the whole population would be available to supply 

 whatever assistance the head farmer required to get the 

 hay made in the best possible state. A single fine day 

 utilised, with the aid of machinery and ample labour, 

 would often save hundreds of pounds value to the colony. 

 The same would be the case with wheat and other corn 

 crops, as well as with fruit and vegetables. 



In such a colony education could be carried on in a 

 rational manner not possible under the present conditions 

 of society, where the means of industrial training have to 

 be specially provided. Ordinary school work would be at 

 the most three or four hours daily ; the remainder of the 

 working day being devoted to various forms of industrial 

 work. Every child would be taught to help in the simpler 



