SELF-HELP RATHER THAX STATE AID 383 



addition to ordinary shows of lectures giving 

 practical explanations to young agriculturists 

 concerning the good or bad points of the 

 exhibits, as is done in Canada, would in itself, 

 for instance, add greatly to the value of these 

 gatherings. 



The extent to which the State should take 

 action in the matters under consideration is a 

 point upon which differences of opinion may 

 arise ; but my individual conviction thereon is 

 that the agriculturists should rely to the fullest 

 possible extent on the two great principles of 

 self-help and mutual-help, and depend as little 

 as possible on State aid. My aim has been, 

 therefore, to show what can be done by a resort 

 to the former principles, rather than to say 

 anything that would lead to greater dependence 

 on the latter, and how very much there is that 

 the British farmers can do for themselves in 

 following examples set elsewhere has, I think, 

 been abundantly proved. 



No one can doubt the zeal shown by the 

 Board of Agriculture, and the part played by 

 that body in (among other things) spreading 

 sound practical information by means of publica- 

 tions of various kinds, is deserving not alone of 

 all praise but of still wider development. In 

 by-gone days, however, there was too marked 



