90 Agriculture and the Community. 



larger unit would be more economic than on the separate 

 farms. 



I think we may reasonably claim that larg^e scale farming 

 would give these advantages all of which would tend to 

 reduce costs. On the other hand is it too much to expect 

 that the larger units could give us better production by 

 the opportunities for more skilful management, for the 

 employment of more specialised skill both on the scientific 

 side and on that of the workers? In other industries it has 

 been found that the larger units can afford to pay for the 

 best skill, and that economies are effected both in the 

 direction of reducing costs and in increasing output. In 

 agriculture we are told these results would not be secured. 

 Just because it is a small scale industry we find that the 

 old superstitions are encouraged. Agriculture is held to 

 be a mystery into which men have to be born, and which 

 will not reveal its secrets to intelligence and organisation. 

 We are solemnly assured that the personal factor is every- 

 thing and that it is not possible to reduce practice to 

 system and organisation. Yet, on their own showing, 

 these born farmers have not made a triumphant success of 

 the industry. They are prone to plead that they could not 

 even make a living at it. That it is really something of a 

 mystery to most of them I am ready to believe, after 

 sitting many days listening to their endeavours to show 

 what it cost to produce an acre of wheat, and how every 

 crop they grew resulted in loss. If any reader imagines 

 I am exaggerating I would recommend a reading of the 

 evidence of English farmers before the Royal Commission 

 on Agriculture, 1919. 



