74 A NEW AGRICULTURAL POLICY 



policy is not possible. Ploughed grass fields, 

 which lay open between coverts to the de- 

 predations of game and rabbits, soon lapsed 

 back to grass when pheasants and rabbits 

 were left to multiply in their preserves or 

 warrens. 



Another reason, supported by eminent author- 

 ities examined before the Royal Commission, 

 was that some County Committees followed 

 too much on the lines of every man being made 

 "to do his bit," regardless of whether that bit 

 was of any use to us nationally or not. In 

 some districts it would have been far better 

 to have pursued a policy of improving the 

 pasture, as at Poverty Bottom, in Sussex, and 

 adding to the meat reserves of the nation 

 rather than of increasing the acreage of badly 

 cultivated arable fields. 



On many a pasture ploughed for wheat or 

 oats, the much-dreaded wireworm, instead of 

 being conquered by a succession of cultivations, 

 unfortunately has been left in possession of the 

 field. Nevertheless, these ill-cultivated fields 

 have revealed to us many of the seams to be 

 found in the patched-up garment of private 

 enterprise, a garment which is very little im- 

 proved by being "inspected," and is turning 

 a seedy green. 



Now I want to turn to the production of 

 milk, which, to us, in times of peace at any 

 rate, is of more importance even than the 



