202 OUR ENGLISH LAND MUDDLE. 



It has to be admitted, however, that in study- 

 ing the domestic economy of countries of high 

 agricultural protection it is found often that cheap 

 living has only been secured by a substitution of 

 food staples which can be easily produced 

 locally for others which would have to be im- 

 ported. The search for cheap food has led to 

 a wider range of locally produced food prod- 

 ucts, and a far more variegated dietary. The 

 contrast between the domestic economy of 

 England and France in respect of food supplies 

 is very striking, and the comparison is alto- 

 gether in favour of France, where for less ex- 

 penditure more rational and more pleasant 

 meals are provided. To live in France on steaks 

 and chops, boiled potatoes, and bread and 

 butter — seemingly the chief staples of food in 

 unthrifty England among those of the workers 

 who can afford them — would be far more expen- 

 sive than in England, and would probably 

 eclipse all the cheerfulness of the nation. There 

 is no doubt that if a serious effort were made 

 to encourage the English people to feed them- 

 selves to a greater extent on the products of 

 their own soil, there would be some changes in 



