March i, 191 7] 



NATURE 



and for protecting electrical machines and cables 

 against abnormal electrical conditions due to 

 iaults or atmospheric disturbances. A discussion 

 is also given of the design of switchboards. In 

 almost every chapter many interesting and im- 

 portant practical researches are suggested. Some 

 of these researches have already been begun and 

 valuable results have been obtained. The industry 

 is already beginning to feel the benefit of co- 

 operative research. 



On p. 553 a formula is given for the maximum 

 electric stress between the horns of a lightning 

 arrester. It is, however, merely the formula for 

 the maximum electric stress between two infinitely 

 long cylindrical wires. Apparently the assumption 



made that the bending of these wires into the 

 j.iape of horns does not appreciably alter the 

 electric stress. The further assumption is made 

 that the value of the disruptive .stress in air is 

 ^5 kilovolts per cm. This is not true. For two 

 parallel wires in air, if r be the radius of either 

 measured in centimetres, the greatest possible 

 ■value of the electric stress is 30 + 9/ri^ kv. ap- 

 proximately at 25° C. and 76 cm. pressure (i'Oi3 

 millibars). It is therefore not independent of the 

 thickness of the wires. Before we can compute 

 the breakdown voltage we need to knOw the 

 formulae for the disruptive stress with the given 

 size of wire and for. the maximum electric stress. 

 The latter is a definite mathematical problem which 

 has not yet been solved. 



The diagrammatic symbols employed by the 

 author are good, although in a few cases he is 

 not consistent. In an appendix the symbols 

 recommended by the British Electrical and Applied 

 Manufacturers' Association (known as the Beama) 

 are given. We have good grounds for hoping, 

 however, that agreement on all the diagrammatic 

 symbols used in electrical work — some 200 — 

 between all the English-si>eaking races will shortly 

 he obtained. A. Russell. 



^.V AGRICULTURAL POLICY. 

 British Agriculture : The Nation's Opportunity. 

 Being the Minority Report of the Depart- 

 mental Committee on the Employment of 

 Sailors and Soldiers on the Land. By the 

 Hon. E. G. Strutt, Leslie Scott, and G. H. 

 Roberts. With a preface, and appendix on the 

 Reclamation of Land, by A. D. Hall. Pp. xi + 

 168. (London : John Murray, 1917.) Price 

 35. 6d. net. 

 TX July, 1915, a Departmental Committee was 

 ■*■ set up "to consider what steps could be 

 taken to promote the settlement and employment 

 on the land in England and Wales of sailors and 

 ■soldiers, whether disabled or otherwise." Within 

 six months Part i. of the report was published, 

 ■urging a policy of closer land settlement by the 

 creation of more small holdings and the carrying 

 ■out of various minor reforms. Before Part ii. 

 ""■'as published certain changes were made in the 

 personnel of the committee, and a minority 

 report was drawn up by Messrs. the Hon. Edward 



XO. 2470, VOL. 99] 



Strutt, Leslie Scott, and G. H. Roberts, who felt 

 unable to sign the majority report. This minority 

 report forms the subject of the present book. 



A considerable portion of the book is occupied 

 by the preliminary section on the "policy of the 

 plough," by an anonymous author styling him- 

 self "Free Trader," who attempts to justify the 

 establishment of a State f>olicy towards agricul- 

 ture. In the past, as he points out, cheapness 

 was the main consideration. The only thing the 

 country cared about was that its bread and meat 

 should be cheap, and it was supposed to be 

 immaterial whether the commodities were pro- 

 duced here or elsewhere. And for a variety of 

 reasons, which we need not now discuss, they 

 tended more and more to be raised elsewhere, until 

 the outbreak of war found us producing only 

 about half our total food, and only about one- 

 fifth of the wheat we need. Had the submarine 

 menace been really effective we must have been 

 starved out. Thoughtful people of all political 

 views are therefore asking what is being done to 

 ensure a stronger •and better developed agri- 

 culture. 



The minority do not consider that the recom- 

 mendations of the majority report go far enough, 

 and not being given to half-measures, they have 

 evolved a scheme of their own. Their aim has 

 not been to make farming more prosperous, but 

 to make it more effective as a means of pro- 

 ducing food and supporting a vigorous popula- 

 tion. Three conditions are laid down as being 

 necessary to success. First, the level of prices 

 must be put sufficiently high to make farming a 

 safe and remunerative occupation for men and 

 capital ; secondly, the position of the labourer 

 must ibe improved as regards wages, housing, 

 and the amenities of life; and, lastly, the land- 

 owner must realise that he has a responsibility 

 to the community. 



All this is, of course, entirely subversive of the 

 old laissez-faire policy. " It is the duty of the 

 nation," say the authors, "to provide for its 

 sailors and soldiers. It is to its interest that the 

 rural population and our home outout of food 

 should be increased. We believe that the end of 

 this war will afford an absolutely unique oppor- 

 tunity of achieving these great ends." .An ade- 

 quate wage, a good cottage, the attractions of a 

 living community, and the chance of rising are 

 necessary so far as the men are concerned, and 

 must be provided by State action. No uniform 

 wage is suggested, but the establishment is re- 

 commended of district wage-boards, having power 

 to see that wages do not fall below such a mini- 

 mum standard as will enable the industrious man 

 to keep himself and his family in physical health 

 and efficiency. The chance of rising is to be 

 provided bv small holdings, which, however, will 

 require to be on a sound basis. 



But this plan can only succeed if the farmer's 

 interest is made identical with that of the State; 

 at present it is not. The farmer might meet the 

 demands for higher wages as his predecessors 

 did in the early 'eighties — by dismissing his men 



