WAGES 



15 



set out to save the waste. The pointed stick gave 

 place to the spade, and the selfsame labour dug twice 

 the quantity of earth ; the efficiency of its use had 

 been increased. 



The improvement in human labour has been brought 

 about by adding to it energy from without, animate 

 and inanimate, and by devising instruments for the 

 better application of energy to the business of manu- 

 facturing food. 



Science has not yet succeeded in making food 

 directly from matter and energy independently of the 

 plant-world, but chemists in many countries are at 

 work upon the problem. What an effect their 

 successful efforts would have upon the expenditure of 

 labour in making food can be gathered from the sub- 

 joined table, which exhibits the present cost of the 

 materials contained in food. 



Table No. II 



Table showing the price at which can be purchased 

 the food ingredients (other than water) contained in 

 a man's daily diet. 



