286 LAND REFORM 



The development of new markets abroad is care- 

 fully watched, while the increase or decrease of 

 the purchasing power of our own counties, as deter- 

 mined by the state of agriculture, is treated as a 

 matter of small moment. 



If the land of this country were fully cultivated, 

 and were yielding to its full capacity, the case would 

 be different. But seeing that under a proper system 

 it would yield twice, or more than twice, its present 

 produce, this indifference of the manufacturing classes 

 is difficult to explain. The old saying about " making 

 two blades of grass grow where one grew before," is 

 always accepted as a sound one, but is never seriously 

 considered as applicable to our own fields. The poor 

 agricultural labourer is but a small customer of the 

 manufacturer, for he can afford to buy little beyond 

 food and raiment. But the peasant proprietor, by the 

 wealth created out of mother earth, buys tools, utensils, 

 carts, furniture, and a variety of other things, including 

 to a considerable extent even ornaments and luxuries. 

 The theory is that a ton of butter from Denmark, for 

 instance, is exchanged for British goods, and thus 

 employment is found for our workmen. The theory 

 is a doubtful one. But if the ton of butter were 

 raised at home — as it could be, seeing the men and 

 the land are available — the exchange between the 

 home producer and consumer would be certain to 

 take place. The illustration is a simple one, but it 

 contains the principle contended for. 



Owing to the vast development of trade and com- 

 merce throughout the world, which began just before 

 the middle of last century, our manufacturers who 

 were prepared for the event (being unrivalled as 

 producers) had for many years a most prosperous 



