26 DECLINE OF BRITISH AGRICULTURE 



than meet his demands for higher pay. To a large 

 extent also the farmer felt little confidence in the 

 permanent improvement of the agricultural position ; 

 the remembrance of the disasters of the great depression 

 were still strongly with him ; he had been bred up to a 

 cautious farming policy, and so preferred to invest his 

 recent profits otherwise than in extending his business. 

 The leaders and advisers of the agricultural community 

 landlords, agents, solicitors and valuers continued 

 to take a pessimistic view of the prospects of agriculture 

 long after it has been justified by the actual course of 

 business ; with them bad times have grown into a fixed 

 tradition, and, moreover, the whole agricultural com- 

 munity became quite unnecessarily alarmed by the 

 trend of legislation and political dealings with land 

 during the years immediately preceding the war. It 

 should be remembered also that the maj ority of farmers 

 regard their occupation as providing a living rather 

 than as a means of making money which can be ex- 

 tended and developed. They accept their routine as 

 something inevitable, not susceptible of change to 

 alter would be " bad farming," whatever the results ; 

 if times are good there is more money to be saved or 

 put aside, but they do not feel called upon to respond 

 to the new opportunities and enlarge their business. 

 They are doing very well as they are, and are not pre- 

 pared to change from their policy of safety except 

 under pressure. We have in all considerations of agri- 

 culture to reckon with the temperament and equipment 

 of the men who are actually holding the bulk of British 

 land at the present moment. Speaking generally, it is 

 not too much to say that they are insufficiently educated 

 and short of capital for the business they have in hand. 



