DISSOLUTION OR EVOLUTION? 317 



In England as well as in other countries, he 

 proceeds, the conditions to which the crisis of 

 1879 gave rise led to two different opinions 

 being formed. The one was that for English 

 agriculture there had set in the beginning of 

 the end. The other held that the new con- 

 ditions were simply a process of evolution, 

 showing the need for a radical change in pro- 

 duction. British farmers, it was argued, must 

 apply their energies in directions where they 

 would either escape the competition of foreigners, 

 or encounter it in a less degree than in the 

 growing of corn. Especially, it was argued, 

 must they devote themselves to raising the 

 finest varieties of cattle — either for the meat 

 market or for stock-breeding purposes — and to 

 the production of butter, cheese, fresh milk, 

 fruit, and vegetables. 



Taking up these various points .seriatim, Dr. 

 Levy adduces, in the first place, a number of 

 facts and figures to show the important position 

 to which Great Britain has attained of late 

 years as a producer of live-stock for foreign 

 countries. Not only, he points out, has the 

 export thereof already attained to considerable 

 proportions, but more and still more British 

 agriculturists are turning their attention to 

 what is found to be a profitable industry. 



