14 LAND REFORM 



of comparison. In the year 1904 the imports of these 

 articles were as follows : — 



TABLE No. 2. 



Raw currants, gooseberries, and straw- £ 



berries . . ... 214,543 



^Raw fruits of kinds that could be grown 



at home 372,575 



Fresh milk and cream .... 25,771 



-Condensed and preserved milk in various 



forms, and sterilized milk . . . 1,640,215 

 ^Raw vegetables unenumerated (peas, 



beans, celery, cabbages, etc., etc.) . 457,491 

 Margarine ...... 2,494,467 



;^5,205,o62 



From the above figures it will be found that of raw 

 fruits of the kinds we could produce, and are produc- 

 ing at home, we imported in 1904 to the value of over 

 four millions sterling. No doubt a considerable quan- 

 tity was sent from warmer climates before our own 

 produce was marketable, but the quantity so sent was 

 but a small proportion of the whole. Besides the 

 articles noted, there are tomatoes which could be 

 grown in England in the same manner as they are 

 ofrown in the Channel Islands.^ There is also as- 



^ Of this amount (^^372, 575) Germany sent us to the value of 

 ;^52,692, Holland ^18,699, France ;£24,757. 



2 The great bulk of this came from Norway, Holland, France, and 

 Belgium. 



3 Of this amount {£aS7A9^) France sent us to the value of ^^277,356, 

 Holland ^^97,389, Germany ;{,' 19,481, Belgium ;^5664. 



* Some time ago I was visiting a peasant proprietor in (Guernsey who 

 owns about fifteen acres of land, which he cultivates largely with tomatoes 

 in glass-houses built in a plain and cheap way under his own direction. 

 He knew the south of England fairly well, and said that he could do 

 better there, as land was so much cheaper than in the Island. I re- 

 minded him that there was plenty of land to be rented. His reply — 

 which he considered conclusive — was, " Seeing the competition we have 

 to meet, hired land would be no good to me." 



