40 THE STATE AS FARMER 



be effected, and much extra food grown, if 

 the larger interest of the State were kept 

 constantly in view when treating the farms. 



When we remember that the origin of all 

 plant growth is the infinitely small portion 

 of food which is contained in the moisture — 

 for we can hardly conceive of it as water 

 here — which is spread over the atoms of 

 which soil is composed, we are compelled to 

 look at the matter as very delicate ; and 

 when we remember also the vast volumes 

 of water which go to a very little food — a 

 much worse proportion than Falstaff's sack 

 and bread — we cannot but look upon the 

 question of water in all its plant-bearings as 

 a very serious one. The plant takes nothing 

 but liquid nourishment : its mouth, so to 

 speak, is not formed for solids. The farmer's 

 care, then, is centred upon keeping the little 

 soil particles moist and no more, though 

 perhaps he little knows what he is doing even 

 when doing it well. The operations of the 

 farmer are steadily set upon accomplishing 

 this object, for none of his ultimate aims, 

 cereals and stock of all kinds, can be secured 



