CHAPTER XIX 



THE SACRIFICE OF AGRICULTURE {continued) — GREAT 

 BRITAIN CAN GROW ALL HER OWN FOOD SUPPLIES 



It is here necessary to support what is set forth in the pre- 

 ceding chapter with the contentions of other earnest advocates 

 of a more vigorous and up-to-date agricultural system that 

 would meet the requirements of the times. There are numerous 

 land-reformers to be found in every section of the community, 

 but we will only select two from the number as representative 

 of their respective parties. 



Mr. Robert Blatchford may be regarded as a type of the 

 revolutionary spirit of the day, while the liight Hon. Jesse 

 Ceilings, M.P., may safely be said to represent that which is 

 conservative among us. Although their political opinions are 

 as far apart as the poles, they are at least united in respect to 

 the necessity of universal agriculture. 



Mk. Blatchford on the Necessity for British Agriculture 



Mr. Blatchford, in his book, " Merrie England," has many 

 references to the subject. Here are a few of them. After 

 quoting figures showing that the United Kingdom, under certain 

 conditions which might be encompassed without much difficulty, 

 could grow food-stuffs to feed about 123,000,000 of people if it 

 were found necessary to do so, he says : — 



" We make cotton goods for foreign countries. The Manchester 

 School will tell you that wc must do it to buy corn. . . . The 

 Manchester School will tell you that we cannot grow our own 

 corn. That is not true. . . . They will tell you that as foreigners 

 can grow corn more cheaply than we can, and as we can make 

 cotton goods more cheaply than they can, it is to the interest of 

 both parties to exchange. I do not believe that any nation can 

 sell corn more cheaply than we could produce it ; and I am sure 

 that even if it cost a little more to grow onr own corn, than to 



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