92 LAND FOR FOOD PRODUCTION 



1908-13 is taken as the starting-point instead of the 

 actual production in 191 4. 



It may be argued that if 4 qr. per acre is the present 

 average yield, the land to be broken up would not yield 

 so much, because it is just the land best suited to the 

 crop that has been kept for wheat growing. This is in 

 part true ; on the other hand, the factor determining 

 the laying down to grass was cost of cultivation not 

 yield ; in the main it was the " wheat and bean " land 

 that went to grass. 



The barley acreage is to be decreased by 40,000 acres 

 in view of the steady fall in the demand for and the 

 price of barley ; the better qualities of home-grown 

 barley are sold for beer, the consumption of which is 

 likely to feel the effects of the poverty of the country 

 after the war. For feeding purposes, barley is better 

 replaced by oats, of which an increase of 880,000 acres 

 is set down. Peas and beans are to be increased con- 

 siderably ; they find a place in the rotation, enrich the 

 land, provide valuable cattle food and human food in an 

 emergency. An extension of potatoes by 110,000 acres 

 is suggested ; this increase would be more than suffi- 

 cient to replace the main-crop potatoes that are now 

 imported from foreign countries. The total value of 

 potatoes imported amounts to £2,000,000 per annum ; 

 but much of this is for specially early potatoes, which 

 may be regarded as articles of luxury that are not 

 necessary. Root crops are to be increased by 160,000 

 acres, and without doubt the amount of cattle food 

 grown on the given acreage can be still further added 

 to by replacing the swedes to some extent by vetches, 

 rape, cabbage and other quick-growing green crops. The 

 extra acreage required for these extensions is to be 



