138 THE LAND AND ITS PROBLEMS 



At the present time, with the existing attitude of the 

 consumer towards the producer, there is no doubt that, 

 even if their system of book-keeping would enable them 

 to do so, few good farmers wish to disclose the results 

 they achieve. 



With the prices for agricultural commodities that 

 have ruled since 1914 the good farmer has made a 

 good profit ; but the indifferent farmer has been faced 

 with difficulties, and increased expenditure, that leave 

 him only moderately better off than he was in pre-war 

 days. 



The net income, per acre, of the average farmer on 

 medium-sized farms was very small indeed before the 

 war, 20/- an acre and often much less. The good 

 farmer, who was a good business man as well, made 

 much more ; but then he was producing more food for 

 the country. 



This is a point the consumer should remember ; also 

 that the good farmer has a right to deduct a substantial 

 salary for his own work, before he declares his rate of 

 interest. It is for this reason that I feel that not only 

 should careful farm accounts be kept, but that they 

 should be made public without reservation. 



With the increasing cost of labour it is essential to 

 have first-class book-keeping ; so that the rate of labour 

 per acre, in producing various crops, can easily be ascer- 

 tained. At no period in our agricultural history has it 

 been more important to reduce the cost of production ; 

 and this cannot be done unless we can accumulate the 

 necessary data, based on accurate accounts. They are 

 the searchlights which illuminate the road to future 

 developments. 



