DUTCH PRODUCERS 131 



the appointment of the Royal Commission in 

 1886. The effect of these reduced prices on the 

 growers was rendered still worse by the fact that 

 the disposal of their produce was then almost 

 entirely in the hands of middlemen, into whose 

 pockets, it was alleged, went most of the profits. 

 As regards the dairy farmers, not only was there 

 a lack of uniformity in the qualities of the butter, 

 there being so many independent producers, but 

 there was also a lack of uniformity in quantity, 

 in regard to butter exported, the available sup- 

 plies being kept back for the home market when- 

 ever it was thought that better prices could be 

 obtained there than in England. 



One sees from all this how thoroughly justified 

 the Royal Commission of 188G had been in 

 recommending self-help as well as State-help, 

 and, in point of fact, the agricultural community 

 showed themselves no more backward in adopt- 

 ing the one principle than the Government had 

 been in acting on the other. 



The market-gardeners, for instance, reorgan- 

 ized their industry on lines that represented 

 some almost revolutionary changes. While the 

 State was teaching them how to produce to the 

 best advantage, they hit upon new expedients 

 for selling to the best advantage. All through 

 North Holland, for example, the market-gar- 



