ITS LESSONS AND ITS WARNINGS 33 



two or three times over, in favour of the " Pur- 

 chase of Land " Bill. These resolutions, how- 

 ever, have not had the least practical effect, 

 for the reason that they are not backed up by 

 political pressure. The old proverb " the child 

 that does not cry gets no food," exactly illus- 

 trates the farmers' position. If the agricultural 

 societies were to consolidate and back up their 

 proposals by political action, regardless of Party 

 considerations, a different and satisfactory state 

 of things would speedily be brought about. 



THE AVERAGE FARMER 



The average farmer cultivates his farm in a 

 most indifferent manner. Through want of 

 capital or want of knowledge, or both, his 

 land does not yield one-half of what it is capable 

 of producing. 



As one example of his carelessness and ignor- 

 ance, anyone passing along our country roads 

 may see heaps of manure on the wayside ex- 

 posed to wind and rain. The liquid manure, the 

 most valuable part of it, may be seen running to 

 waste down the hedge troughs and often flood- 

 ing the roads. The Continental farmer would 

 look with horror at this waste of what he regards 



D 33 



