THE STATE AS FARMER 25 



which result from the different geologic 

 formations present to the scientist a rough 

 first suggestion for farming to the best advan- 

 tage ; but a detailed presentation of the case 

 by the Board of Agriculture itself would 

 lead but to a very sorry result. The under- 

 lying principle among farmers is the besting 

 of his neighbour, not the working with him 

 for gigantic national supplies. He wants to 

 use his skill in dealing, not intelligent farming, 

 whereas the people as a whole are not con- 

 cerned in these mutual victories and defeats, 

 but in the prolific bearing of the soil. The very 

 system of land tenure adds emphasis to this 

 bad and uncertain method of farming. I have 

 no doubt that there is quite a large class of 

 farmer which thrives upon taking more than 

 it ought out of the farms it rents for a term. 

 And, in consequence, there is necessarily 

 another class which fails and causes loss to 

 others because it shoulders the work of such 

 farms denuded for the time. A national 

 system is unthinkable which does not keep 

 every acre of the shires in good heart. There 

 would be no one to overreach, for all would 

 thrive and combine towards good results. 



