Weeds 



There is no new principle involved. We have the 

 machinery already for diseases of cattle, and I 

 understand that in the southern states of America 

 stringent measures are taken against insect pests, 

 farmers being penalized who do not keep them 

 down. 



Of course, the rules must be flexible at first. 

 A period would elapse before the farming clauses 

 were enforced, but the merchants might be 

 immediately brought into line with the cake and 

 manure manufacturers. It would protect them 

 from unscrupulous competitors. After a genera- 

 tion under the " New Act " weeds would be, at 

 any rate, scarcer, and it would be easier to sup- 

 press them. What, then, abolition would mean I 

 do not attempt to describe. After reading this, let 

 each consider what it would be worth to him, 

 then work towards such a desirable end. 



This campaign may be opposed by short- 

 sighted men, on account of its expense! The re- 

 sults obtained would be greater compared with 

 the outlay than possible in any other way, yet 

 there would still be the objectors as exampled in 

 the beginning of this chapter. If they predominate, 

 if the farmers of England have no more gumption 

 than to be represented by such men, then they 

 deserve whatever fate befalls them. 



79 



