The Development of British Agriculture 23 



and where the students are taught how to get the 

 greatest possible amount of nutritive matter out of 

 the soil for man and beast, and how to get this of a 

 uniformly good quality 



During the Great War, especially towards the end 

 of 1916, British agriculture, passed through a severe 

 crisis. Owing to the sinking of ships by German 

 submarines, there was a great decrease in food imports 

 from abroad, and thousands of our farm labourers 

 were taken into the army. Their places were filled by 

 women and children, and in some cases by German 

 prisoners ; but it became evident that these were not 

 efficient substitutes. In face of these and other diffi- 

 culties a new president of the Board of Agriculture was 

 appointed, and he nominated a committee of expert 

 agriculturists to advise him on questions arising in 

 connexion with the increased production of home- 

 grown food. This committee inspired confidence among 

 British farmers, and met their most pressing wants 

 with regard to labour, fertilisers, cattle food-stuffs, etc. 



In the early days of 1917 there were schemes on 

 foot for utilising waste land. Parks were ploughed 

 for growing cereals and other food products; and in 

 thousands of parishes allotments were freely set apart 

 for the growth of vegetables. The wages of farm 

 labourers were increased, and every effort was made to 

 keep up a good supply of food. Agricultural machinery 

 of all kinds was set in motion, and hundreds of motor 

 tractors were distributed throughout the country. 



A Food Controller was also appointed, and it was 

 his function to fix prices for certain food commodities 

 and to regulate the amount consumed. It was recom- 

 mended that 4 Ibs. of bread and 2J Ibs. of meat 



