BEDINGHAM, DITCHING ff AM &-^ THE FARMS 41 



rents suggested are modest in its [)resent state, and could, I think, 

 be obtained. 



Still, with every deduction and allowance, the loss remains 

 heavy, although I think I may say that the holding has been 

 farmed with economy and not without intelligence. The agri- 

 cultural position in our part of England, however, is such that 

 unless the land is sound, if not good, and in heart and order, 

 it cannot be made to pay at the prices which have prevailed for 

 the last few years, that is, if it is properly done by and honestly 

 farmed as a man would farm his own. lliere is no margin left for 

 loss or for a mistake, and, as everybody reminds us, even we farmers 

 make mistakes ! One bit of bad luck, such as a disease among 

 the stock, or a drought or a flood, will swallow all the profit. 



All things combine against the great British industry of 

 farming, because that industry, in our circumstances, cannot 

 combine to protect itself. One man's vote is as good as that of 

 another, therefore the labourers, being in the majority, have the 

 majority of votes, and for the most part they cannot be made to 

 see that their interests are one with those of the landowner and 

 the farmer, with whom they must stand or fall. Often enough, 

 in what I hold to be their blindness, they will vote for those 

 pledged to injure these interests rather than for those pledged 

 to help them. Therefore the seven millions of people con- 

 cerned in agriculture get little real help from Governments of 

 either party, for soft words, oratorical tears, and Royal Com 

 missions are not help. They get little help because, being a 

 house divided against itself, they cannot force their will upon 

 them, and turn them out if they will not listen. 



Thus, by way of illustration, without going into the vexed 

 question of Protection, if we who are interested in the land were 

 the citizens of any other country, or even if we were Irishmen, 

 who understand how to deal with Governments, should we be so 

 disproportionately rated and taxed as we are still, in comparison 

 with the burdens laid upon personal property, or should we be 

 obliged to see the products of the foreigner carried by the railway 



