CHAPTER V 



THE CAPACITY OF THE LAND FOR FOOD PRODUCTION 



It now remains to consider what can be effected in the 

 way of increasing the national food production, for any 

 radical disturbance of existing conditions of farming 

 can only be justified if it accomplishes something sub- 

 stantial towards making the nation self-supporting in 

 time of war. We take as our initial criterion of what is 

 possible the extent of the arable land in 1872, the year 

 in which it reached its highest point. 



The following table, No. VI, summarizes the position 

 in 1872 and 19 13 : 



TABLE VI. — AREA OF CULTIVATED LAND, ARABLE LAND AND 

 WHEAT IN 1872 AND I913 



85 



