THE STATE AS FARMER 29 



calumny upon our organising powers. Every 

 one of such orchards in a properly arranged 

 State should send its few bushels to the grading 

 depot, just as the farmyard should send its 

 eggs. Our collecting is bad and our dis- 

 tributing is bad because we do not know how 

 to organise our own land. It seems almost 

 as if the desire for fruit and vegetables in 

 some of our large manufacturing towns were 

 atrophied, there is so little to be got. And 

 can we wonder at this under the circumstances, 

 and can we be surprised that health in such 

 districts leaves much to be desired ? 



The due cultivation of the grain crops 

 raises problems similar to those raised by 

 stock. Wheat, oats, barley, and the rest can 

 be improved by careful breeding, just as cattle 

 and sheep can. The objects to be aimed at 

 are yield, immunity from disease, and quality 

 of grain. Although Professor Biff en may work 

 wonders, it seems scarcely probable that we 

 shall ever grow a strong spring wheat in 

 England where the conditions are so adverse. 

 But we may do much to make our crops more 

 certain and of a better average yield of finer 



