WHAT THE PUBLIC CAN DO 339 



likely to impose. One could, I think, go even further, 

 and say that, if Protection were adopted in this country 

 without effective agricultural combination, the foreigner 

 would, in most instances, though not in all, still be able 

 to compete in British markets successfully with home 

 growers, because of his cheaper production and better 

 conditions of marketing, etc., due mainly to the 

 thoroughness of his organization. 



Finally, I would submit, there are certain moral 

 obligations resting on the British public. 



One market-gardener I have met was convinced there 

 would be no great improvement until we began to 

 appreciate more the value of good wholesome vege- 

 tables and especially those of the lesser-known kind, 

 such as sea-kale and increased the consumption 

 thereof. A dairy farmers' secretary lamented to me 

 that people still had much to learn as to the food-value 

 of milk, and various fruit-producers I know are looking 

 forward to the time when, whatever the average house- 

 wife may do in respect to vegetables and milk, she will, 

 at least, not overlook the virtues of fruit as a regular 

 article of diet, and thus send up the demand for avail- 

 able supplies. I do not mean * moral obligations ' of 

 this kind, but the need of appreciating (i) what may be 

 done with English land, and (2) the desirability of 

 encouraging practical schemes for settling thereon a 

 larger number of suitable persons to engage in the 

 particular industries still open to them, and offering 

 wide scope for their energies. 



Those of us who are neither land-owners nor capital- 

 ists may still exercise a useful influence in first 

 realizing the actual facts of the situation, and then 

 helping to create a healthy public opinion which would 

 alike restore confidence in British agriculture ; en- 

 courage both Imperial and local authorities to advance 



22 2 



