4 THE STATE AS FARMER 



district treated to this policy of starvation 

 contributes little to the nation's wealth, 

 although those few denizens who direct its 

 policy keep adding something to their miserly 

 hoards. 



All sorts of panaceas for the national soil 

 have been tried in recent years. Let me 

 glance at a few of them now ; there will be 

 much to say about them later. They are 

 good in themselves, but almost useless if left 

 to spasmodic choice. Agricultural colleges 

 and farm schools have been founded ; co- 

 operation of a limited kind is at work in 

 some districts ; co-partnership has been tried ; 

 small holdings can be secured within limits 

 under the National Act ; horses have had 

 large sums spent upon them, and we wonder 

 whether Germany and Austria or ourselves 

 have reaped the benefit ; research is being 

 carried out with great ability ; and, to crown 

 all, the Board of Agriculture is ever on the 

 watch to help. But where are we ? Every- 

 thing was dearer, even in peace, and more 

 difficult to get ; everyone still does only 

 what is right in his own eyes ; no one knows 

 whether he will be able to get a market for 



