6 THE LAND AND ITS PROBLEMS 



much more definitely than we do their direct dependence 

 upon the land, because for many years it has been 

 customary to give the rising generations instruction 

 concerning land, just as instruction in history or 

 mathematics is given. 



One of the aims of this book is to show the national 

 importance of maintaining the area of land under the 

 plough, and of increasing that area where it is wise to 

 do so. 



Another aim is to lay stress upon the national and 

 social importance of maintaining the number of small 

 holdings (i.e. farms of fifty acres and under) and upon the 

 need of improving the living and business conditions of 

 the smallholders. 



It is not suggested for one moment that the United 

 Kingdom should become entirely a country of small 

 holdings, nor is it suggested that all grass land should 

 be ploughed up. 



There must always be a large proportion of grass land ; 

 but this should be well farmed, and put to the best 

 economic use, which it is not at the present moment. 



The one hope of the writer of this book is that it may 

 serve in some small degree to interest people, not 

 definitely connected with the land, in the land problem ; 

 and induce them as voters to insist upon our land being 

 put to its fullest national use, that the cultivators of the 

 land shall live under the best possible conditions, and 

 that their children be given educational opportunities 

 equal to those enjoyed by the town child. 



Since Chapter IX was written, the Government has 

 repealed Part I of the Agriculture Act. 



C. T. 



