16 THE GREAT WAR 



average cost of land in our country. From 

 similar enquiries with regard to rented land, he 

 found that the average rent in Belgium was 36s. 

 an acre as against 20s. an acre, the latter being 

 the estimated average rent of land in England. 



In his visits to European countries the present 

 writer has made special enquiries on this point, 

 and has invariably found that the price of land 

 there was at least double and even treble the 

 price of land in England. 



PRODUCE OF THE SOIL 



The produce of the soil in England is corre- 

 spondingly low, in many cases, being about one- 

 half of that of Continental countries. It might 

 almost be taken as an axiom that low prices and 

 low rents of land are coupled with a low scale of 

 production. The so-called " good landlord " is 

 largely responsible for this by his readiness to 

 lower rents or to postpone payment of rents, 

 instead of insisting on an improved production 

 of the soil. The " good landlord," low cultiva- 

 tion and low rents are conditions not infre- 

 quently found together in this country. 



The apologists for our present system con- 

 tinually state that the land in England produces 



