A NEW AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMME 251 



is the farmer in the marketing of his produce through 

 the thousands of co-operative societies that are 

 found in that country, that a man is able to make a 

 comfortable Hving from a few acres of land. 



Since the war broke out nearly all of the warring 

 nations of Europe have worked out more or less com- 

 prehensive agricultural policies, all following sub- 

 stantially the same lines and all looking to financial 

 and other support from the state. And all of these 

 projects include cheap credit, long-term loans, and 

 the purchase and sale of land for farming purposes 

 by the state. 



As long ago as 1903, Great Britain undertook a 

 solution of the Irish question by the subdivision of 

 the great estates owned by the EngHsh gentry. In 

 thirteen years the government has expended $550,- 

 000,000 in the purchase, subdivision, and settlement 

 of 9,000,000 acres of land, or about one-third of the 

 total area of Ireland. An unhappy, poverty-stricken 

 country is being converted into a nation of home- 

 owning farmers. It is expected that by 1920 

 tenancy will have almost ceased to exist, at vir- 

 tually no cost to the empire. The money appro- 

 priated for the purpose is being repaid by the pur- 

 chasers in instalments, with interest. A royal com- 

 mission for England and Scotland is now engaged 

 in making a census of estates and is framing a law 

 under which land will be subdivided and sold to 

 returning soldiers at the close of the war. 



