272 BRITAIN FOR THE BRITON 



own has never ceased to regard agriculture as the main source 

 of national wealth, and the great fulcrum u])0u which moves 

 all human enterprise. Many wise edicts and laws have been 

 put into operation during the last century for the benefit of the 

 industry ; while the numerous agricultural colleges ; the schools 

 of tillage ; the State-aided agricultural works ; the special 

 grants for land reclamation ; the intinerant stalf of teachers 

 and lecturers who move to and fro imparting valuable informa- 

 tion to those engaged in the industry ; the many facilities 

 offered for agricultural co-operation, and other instances too 

 numerous to enumerate : all testify to the keen interest of the 

 State, and its direct aid to, and co-operation with, agriculturists 

 for the benefit of the industry. 



In this party-ridden country it is enough to propose a 

 scheme of the kind to show that it will invoke bitter opposition. 

 One political party will avoid it, another will make political 

 capital by opposing it ; while Vested Interests will open 

 all their vials of wrath upon any party rash enough to counte- 

 nance so drastic a measure. Nevertheless, it will have to be 

 dealt with before British agriculture can assume its proper 

 position as the primal industry and the chief mainstay of 

 the British people. 



Financial State Aid necessary 



Then, the State should be ready with financial aid, and 

 while there is no necessity to throw money at a man, there is 

 every necessity that no capable, deserving man should be lost 

 to the country for lack of a little capital. In this connection 

 it should be borne in mind that Great Britain has lagged 

 behind other nations so long that she has no agriculture worthy 

 the name, and that she will have to create both agriculture and 

 agriculturists. In this process of creation all sorts and con- 

 ditions of men will no doubt be attracted to agriculture : some 

 will be worthless, others worthy of help ; these latter should 

 be encouraged by direct State aid, retained, and built into the 

 great agricultural structure. 



Recognising that ample capital is essential to the success 

 of the agricultural, as it is to that of other industries, the 

 State must come forward here as in other directions ; and, by 

 Ijecoming the agricultural bankers of the country, maintain the 

 industry in a prosperous condition, undertaking only those 

 financial responsibilities which the country would, for such a 

 purpose, willingly subscribe to. 



State Agricultural Banking Agencies should be established 

 in convenient centres throughout the kingdom, which for this 



