ITS LESSONS AND ITS WARNINGS 73 



confiscated by the Germans for the use of their 

 troops, and the land in these countries has been 

 laid bare. Moreover, vast numbers of the rural 

 populations of Belgium, France, Germany and 

 Russia are engaged in the war ; whilst most of 

 the agricultural horses suitable for military pur- 

 poses have been requisitioned by the respective 

 Governments. 



Under the Continental system, the wives and 

 families of the occupying owners perform much 

 of the work on the land, and during the war will 

 do most of it ; but it is impossible for them to 

 do all the work usually done by horses and men. 



As to Russia, her agricultural resources are 

 greater than those of any other European 

 country, but even in her case the immense num- 

 ber of the rural population who have joined the 

 army will result in a great decrease in the 

 quantity of food produced in that country, and 

 will leave little or none for export. It is true 

 that more food may be imported from our 

 British possessions and other oversea countries, 

 but it would be folly to rely on this assumption. 

 In any case it must be borne in mind that the 

 Continental demand would greatly affect the 

 prices paid for these commodities in Great 



