186 BRITAIN FOR THE BRITON 



allow another 16 million acres to run waste, without suffering 

 terribly for its folly. Let us see how it has affected us. 



How Neglected Agkicultuee affects the People 



If we look at the questic^rt^irst from the point of view of 

 the people, i.e. how it affects our workers in the matter of 

 employment, we find that the land industry of the United 

 Kingdom employs and supports to-day only about 5,000,000 

 persons, or less than one-eighth of the population. 



Eational Method 



France employs and supports about three-fifths of its popu- 

 lation, Germany about one-third, and Hungary about three- 

 fourths in the laud industry ; and if we choose to follow their 

 example by introducing a common-sense, rational system of 

 agriculture, a universal system of small and large holdings by 

 occupying owners and reasonable land tenures all round, we 

 should be able to employ and support at least one-third of 

 our population, or, say, about 14 millions of our people on the 

 land, or even more by a higher system of cultivation. 



But there is really no necessity to push the matter to 

 extremes, and this is only intended to show what our land is 

 really capable of. 



There is, however, every necessity for the people of this 

 country to be awakened from that deadly, lethargic sleep into 

 which they were plunged by the preaching of a false prophet. 

 Cobden and his disciples were fervid reformers, strenuous in 

 their efforts, sincere in their convictions, and completely suc- 

 cessful in their campaign. They fought long and well for what 

 they considered to be a good cause, and they carried a large 

 section of their countrymen with them. 



They won the battle, but in winning it they destroyed 

 agriculture, and in killing the land industry they murdered 

 the people's best friend and greatest ally. 



The deadly effects of the campaign were not felt at once ; the 

 great land industry was Imrd to kill, and it survived for a time. 



Here is what Mr. Ernest E. Williams, author of "The 

 Imperial Heritage," "Made in Germany," "The Foreigner in 

 the Farm- Yard," etc., has to say on the subject in " Our National 

 Peril "— 



Agricultuke Dies Slowly 



" It was not all at once that agriculture bogau to die. Just as 

 a man may, by some foolish course of living, sow in his system the 



