CHAPTER I. 



PREFACE 



In the following pages I have endeavoured to sum- 

 marise a few of the aspects of the different agricultural 

 problems which present themselves to the mind of every 

 serious thinking citizen concerned with the prosperity of 

 the country he inhabits and his own welfare, and after 

 studying the matter to insist on the remedies which force 

 themselves on the mind as unavoidable if the prosperity 

 of the past is to be maintained in the future. 



The struggle in Europe has reached an end, and 

 there now remain the final or real effects to be taken into 

 account, especially from the standpoint of the successful 

 combatants the Allies and what policy they will be 

 forced to adopt in order to secure the most practical re- 

 sult from their labours. 



Will any of these final results affect the Argentine 

 farmer? Will the Republic renew its commercial opera- 

 tions on the same footing as before? Will trade resume 

 its old course, and find in increased operations further 

 stimulant to greater exertion ; or will the markets be less 

 easily supplied, in the future than in the past, and in- 

 stead of augmented prosperity, following on the fulfilling 

 of their demands, a reduced demand for our produce 

 bring grave trouble to our incipient agriculture ? 



That a new situation has arisen is the common con- 

 sensus of opinion. How do we stand at the present, and 

 what steps will place us in as favourable position as pos- 

 sible whatever happens ? 



I am convinced that despite the flamboyant optim- 

 ism that characterises the opinions of all who inhabit the 

 New World, and particularly these climes, to the major- 

 ity of thinking folk the answer, however lightly given, 

 nevertheless raises some feelings of disquiet. 



In regard to the other extreme I am just as much 

 convinced that there is, as the perusal of the following 

 pages will show, no need for extreme despondency, but 

 there is a call for something better than in the past. 



