294 THE FARMER AND THE NEW DAY 



countries will make it imperative that we take into account 

 their commercial well being. Certain of their products, which 

 they can produce well and more cheaply than we, will under 

 free trade conditions be shipped to us. On the other hand we 

 shall produce those commodities for which we are naturally best 

 fitted, thus making the best use of the natural resources of the 

 world without regard to the flag which floats over them. Here- 

 after we must think in international terms. 



III. WHAT ARE THE MAIN ITEMS WHICH SHOULD BE INCLUDED 

 IN SUCH A POLICY? 



When it comes to a statement of the main items which 

 should be included in an agricultural policy it is very evident 

 that agricultural leaders have great difficulty in separating the 

 essential from the non-essential. A host of items were men- 

 tioned, some of them patently reflecting local conditions, some 

 of them the pet themes of the writers, some of them obvious 

 agricultural needs and others including a comprehensive na- 

 tional program. Altogether a catalog of these items, as gleaned 

 from the replies, comprehends almost every phase of the agri- 

 cultural program and represents nearly every part of the coun- 

 try. A rather rough analysis would throw most of the sugges- 

 tions into a few comprehensive groups. 



1. Land problems, including the colonization, settlement, ten- 

 ure and financing of land. 



2. Soil conservation, including not only staying the ravages 

 of erosion and soil depletion by careless farming, but also the 

 conservation of potash, nitrogen, phosphoric acid, lime and other 

 elements or materials of fertility suitable for plant growth in the 

 air, in the soil and in the earth. 



3. Control of farm capital, including access to capital for the 

 purchase of land and other permanent improvements, for the 

 purchase of suitable equipment and for conducting current agri- 

 cultural operations. There is a general feeling that the gov- 

 ernment has not gone far enough in financial assistance, that 

 while the land banks are good they should be supplemented with 

 institutions for providing short time credit and should be closely 



