A BRIKF EXAMINATION OF FKEE-TllADE riUXCll'LES 341 



within that proi)ortion demanded by a reasonable system of 

 crop rotation, and from this point of view, at least, the question 

 of growing all our own corn comes clearly within the scope of 

 practicability. There is, however, as is shown in other chaijters 

 of this book, a vast " uncultivated " area of about 10,000,000 

 acres which could easily be brought under the ] dough — once 

 this country were given a sensible agricultural system — and 

 added to the " cultivated " area of 4'J,'000,000 acres. Much of 

 this added area would prove to be excellent corn land. 



That the agricultural possibilities of tliis country are 

 enormous, there is no question. 



That this power is to-day expressed by potentialities rather 

 than by a living, active force, is also true. 



Tliat our great land industry is still a potentiality, instead 

 of a vast power exuberant with vital energy, is partly due to 

 inept administration influenced liy tlie vested interests of the 

 Manchester Scliool, and those who uphold present land tenures, 

 and partly to political economists, who, by the laws of an 

 inexact " science," teach the people it is better to let their land 

 lie idle than to cultivate it. 



Science is an excellent thing to have and to hold, and 

 without it there would be but little progression in many human 

 affairs. It is as necessary to the individual as to the nation, 

 and no man would be foolish enough to deny its efficacy or 

 deride its teachings. But there are certain limitations beyond 

 which even Science may not venture, and if she has the temerity 

 to do so she becomes as much liable to a rebuff as would an 

 ordinary individual who had rashly exceeded the limitations set 

 by Prudence. 



Scientists confound "Laws" with "Theorems" 



If political economists call to their aid the doctrines of 

 economic science, and persuade themselves that they are dealing 

 with the laws of an exact science, and not with the theorems of 

 economists, they lay themselves open to a rebuff the moment 

 the invalidity of their reasoning becomes apparent. 



Over sixty years ago the people were persuaded to abandon 

 their land when there was not the slightest necessity for doing 

 anything of the kind. Since that period political economists 

 have done more to keep alive this fatal belief than any other 

 section of the community, and have exercised a greater influence 

 over the question than anything else in the kingdom. 



The time has now come to treat the entire matter of growing 

 our ovrn corn from a rational, common-sense point of view, a 



