76 RURAL RECONSTRUCTION 



on the consumers' behalf by paid servants. On this ground they 

 have in this manner placed themselves in marked antagonism to 

 agricultural co-operators who would have co-operation their most 

 useful helpmate, indeed, but retain the profits earned by their own 

 skill and their own industry for themselves — just as industrial 

 co-operators retain the wages which they earn by their own labour — 

 and remain masters on their farms, as industrial co-operators 

 remain masters in their own homes. The advocates of collective 

 farming by the great mass of consumers draw too wide conclusions 

 from a rather narrow premiss. Splendid results, as farming by co- 

 operative distributive societies, with their almost unlimited working 

 funds, for a supply of their own requirements, has unquestionably 

 yielded, and much room as there undoubtedly is for a considerable 

 further extension of such practice, making a universal practice of it 

 for the whole kingdom would, so it is to be feared, produce only 

 very poor national husbandry ; and it would altogether miss the point 

 which is of even greater national importance than agricultural 

 productiveness, namely, the improvement of social conditions, 

 which we look for in the development of agriculture on the lines of 

 small holdings now generally accepted. 



However, there is no mistaking either the threat or the danger 

 which the nationalising movement bodes. 



There is therefore a distinct call for us to set our agricultural 

 house in order ere it be too late. And, generally speaking, the 

 agricultural world appears to recognise the fact. Only, among 

 those who assent to the principle there are, so it is to be appre- 

 hended, many who are not quite clear within themselves how far 

 that principle should be carried. 



Naturally, being admittedly backward, and on the other hand 

 surrounded by a veritable " cloud of witnesses," we look about 

 among our neighbours for a useful lead. We have officially sent 

 inquirers into Denmark and the Netherlands, and since Germany 

 is very much under our observation and is admitted to have scored 

 wonderful successes by her agricultural organisation — organisa- 

 tion being supposed to be her special forte — we now fix our eyes 

 mainly upon that country whose agricultural organisation our own 

 agricultural authorities have of late thoroughly explored. Now 

 Germany without question has in this matter a great deal to teach 

 us. Nevertheless, one would rather that our searchers for an 

 agricultural policy would look elsewhere, at any rate as well, for 

 such guidance as is needed under our particular circumstances. 

 The United States and Canada afford us, for our present purposes, 



