CH. IlJ RELATIONS OF PEASANT TO LAND AND CROPS 153 



that it has been the object of pretty general and sometimes 

 extravagant praise. 



" During the period of its working the culture system was 

 applied to the cultivation of a long list of products. The 

 Government experimented with coffee, sugar, indigo, tea, 

 tobacco, cinnamon, cochineal, pepper, silk, cotton, etc., and 

 dropped from the list the products which after an extended 

 trial gave no promise of returning a profit to itself. From 

 the fiscal standpoint, coffee, sugar, and indigo were the only 

 products that ever attained importance." 



In actual fact the system soon developed into one of forced 

 labour, and as it returned enormous profits to the Dutch 

 exchequer, the whole system of Government in Java became 

 organised to suit it. From 1840 to 1874 the profits returned 

 to Holland 1 are supposed to have amounted to no less than 

 781,000,000 florins, but there is little doubt that had the 

 natives been fairly paid and treated this profit, nor anything 

 approaching it, could never have been realised. One great 

 benefit it conferred upon Java was forcing the Government 

 to make a splendid system of roads which in themselves 

 opened up the country and made markets accessible. 



That it is not impossible to apply compulsory measures in 

 agriculture, even at the present time, is of course obvious. 

 The rules in force in several tropical countries, fixing dates of 

 sowing, planting, harvest, etc., are an instance. These rules, 

 however, are, like those in force in America and other advanced 

 countries, mainly to protect those engaged in agriculture from 

 the dangers to which they might be exposed by the careless- 

 ness, neglect or delay of their neighbours. 



It seems hardly feasible, however, at this period of time, to 

 force an unwilling population to engage in agriculture, or to 

 alter their methods. What must be done is to make it attrac- 

 tive, and to pass such measures as may be necessary to prevent 

 waste, injury and neglect. 



Though naturally indolent, the villager is by no means 

 blind to his own interests, and knows fairly well what will pay 



1 For the Dutch colonies are worked on a different plan to the English, and 

 do not get their own revenue for their own expenditure. 



