THE HOME MARKET 307 



not made in a lump quantity, in one large indent, but 

 are made to a great number of individual buyers in 

 that country, each one of whom will, in any circum- 

 stances, take our goods if it suits him to do so, and in 

 no circumstances will he take them if it does not. 

 France, Germany, and other nations have been 

 effectually defending and protecting their agricultural 

 interests, and at the same time their exports of manu- 

 factured goods have been increasing by leaps and 

 bounds. 



If we turn to the future, the outlook for agriculture, 

 and consequently for the British home trade, is a 

 gloomy one, if the present system is continued. Small 

 as our home supply of cereals is at the present time, 

 there is every prospect that it will become less and 

 less. There is evidence that farmers will act more 

 freely on what is termed the " wise advice to rely on 

 cattle," and on the assurance that "live stock will 

 prove to be the sheet-anchor of farming." 



But even this branch of the industry is threatened. 

 In former times, cattle from over-sea could be im- 

 ported into this country and sold on arrival as fat or 

 store animals. The Diseases of Animals Acts, passed 

 some years ago, put an end to this practice by pro- 

 viding that cattle must be slaughtered at the ports 

 within a few days after they have been landed.^ But 

 a powerful and wealthy organization has been formed 

 with the object of securing the repeal of these Acts. 

 This organization includes graziers, representatives of 

 railway and shipping companies, co-operative societies, 



^ The efficacy of these Acts is shown by the following report : — 

 "With the close of the year 1904, I am again able to report that the live 

 stock of Great Britain remains free from all the more serious contagious 

 diseases legislated for in this country." (Report of the Chief Veterinary 

 Officer, Board of Agriculture, Cd. 2454, 1905.) 



