THE STATE AS FARMER 59 



may define more clearly the method and the 

 system — we should obtain all possible results 

 from the natural before introducing artificial 

 plans. Some of our old meadows afford illus- 

 trations of what riches may be grown up 

 gradually by a wise method of natural treat- 

 ment by means of stock. It is difficult to 

 draw the exact line between slow enrichment 

 and gradual impoverishment. We can only 

 recognise the difference between the greedy 

 purpose of overstocking and overselling, which 

 little by little takes more out of the soil 

 than it can stand, and that slow process 

 of building up to which the land responds 

 so faithfully. The first means of arriving at 

 this increase of reserve may for my purpose 

 be taken as the systematic use of home- 

 grown crops to feed the stock and thus 

 obtain the dual benefit of better stock, meat, 

 milk, and the rest, and the more thorough 

 manuring of the land. 



When we have reached this theoretical 

 position, we may the more readily discern 

 the higher branches of fertility and heavier 

 production. There are three requirements 

 which the soil sometimes lacks, and the 



