304 THE HUMAN ELEMENT 



work he had to do made less demands on his intelli- 

 gence than upon his physical endurance. In the same 

 way there may be still ^less prospect of successfully 

 settling the * unemployed ' on the soil, there to work 

 out their own salvation as small owners. 



This point is so important, as a matter of public 

 policy, and as one that is giving rise to hopes which 

 may be doomed to disappointment, that it is desirable 

 the position should be clearly understood. 



In the matter of market-gardening, for instance, it 

 may be said that anyone can dig ; but the successful 

 growth of a variety of vegetables, fruits and flowers 

 under present-day conditions, and especially for sale on 

 the market, needs a wide range of experience and 

 practical knowledge (apart from the sustained physical 

 exertion involved), and it might well happen that the 

 ' labour failures of town life ' would not be equal to 

 the requirements of the situation. 



Butter and cheese making, again, are industries in 

 which training and technical knowledge count for much ; 

 while even if the dairy farmer should content himself 

 with sending milk to the towns, he will secure the best 

 results if he understands the scientific principles of 

 milk production, and learns from their application 

 which of his cows yield the most, breeding from them 

 accordingly, in preference to the less remunerative 

 animals. 



As regards the growing of fruit, the Departmental 

 Committee which recently reported on this subject 

 said : 



The fruit industry, as at present conducted, is a comparatively 

 modern one, and it may be said to be largely in the experimental 

 stage in this country. It is not surprising, therefore, if the average 

 grower is ignorant of many things essential to his success ; but 

 the ignorance alleged appears to go very far beyond this, and on 

 certain material questions nobody in this country appears to be 



