44 THE STATE AS FARMER 



and the State suffers the loss. We have to 

 see to it henceforward that the methods 

 which are known to be the best are applied 

 to our acres, and that the willing-to-learn 

 only are allowed to till. There will be a 

 terrible tug of war ; but the true interests 

 of the State must be secured in spite of any 

 separate claim or feudal tradition that may 

 stand in the way. 



The study of the infinitely little and of 

 its overwhelming importance in the case of 

 water is matched by that of the living 

 bacteria which are associated with the farmer's 

 work. As in the case of soil water, but in a 

 more marked degree, the working agriculturist 

 cannot by his own study and research apply 

 to the land the best treatment himself, still 

 less can he afford to employ the services 

 of the professional man. But it would be 

 comparatively easy to obtain such expert 

 advice for a whole district and to apply it in 

 a broad fashion to the soil according to its 

 needs, not according to the whims or the 

 resources of its owners under the present 

 system. The beneficent biological influence 



