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I 



OUR TRADE WITH ENGLAND. 



outbreak of the war was the opportunity which 

 innumerable theorists had awaited. It was the unique 

 occasion for demonstrating the truth of their theories, 

 and for the Government to prove the fundamental truth 

 of the Free Trade policy. 



One of the immediate results of the war was to 

 bring into prominence the wheat supply question. Un- 

 ^leuiably, at first the hope was maintained of being able 

 to continue supplying from the customary sources; the 

 adoption, however, of the blockade by both parties and 

 the subsequent submarine campaign soon put a limit to 

 supplies from foreign sources. 



The supplying from home sources then became of 

 paramount importance. Two courses were open, to at- 

 tempt to increase the production of cereals at home and 

 to limit the consumption at the same time, while seek- 

 ing for adequate substitutes. Over the question of sub- 

 stitutes there is no need to dwell ; it has been denounced 

 fiercely; it stands out despite the hunger and need. 

 Five }^ears of war conditions have produced nothing 

 palatable in the way of substituting bread ::nade from 

 wheat flour. 



THE REVIVAL OF AGRICULTURE IN ENGLAND 



A general revival of agriculture followed on the 

 excellent terms accorded the farmers disposed to under 

 take the cultivation of cereals; they received special 

 bonuses for every hectare of land laid down under ce- 

 reals, plus additional rewards for every hectare of grass 

 land they dedicated to cereals, plus minimum fixed 

 prices, plus special loans for the purchase of modern 

 machinery, plus importation free of charge by the State 

 from North America, plus reduced taxation. They were 

 freed from all taxation under the War-profits Law; in 

 short every temptation was offered to indulge in unli- 

 mited production. 



The results were hailed as satisfactory, oven if va- 

 luable meadow lands laid down with expensive grasses 

 were destroyed, and the cattle and sheep breeding 

 suffered greatly. Nevertheless, though Ilie greatest 

 total of land ever under cultivation was recorded in 

 so far as wheat was concerned, the nett results were 

 only to add some 250,000 hectares to the odd 750,000 

 previously dedicated to cereals. 



The official statistics, allowing an average Yield 



