THE STATE AS FARMER 99 



and supplement of bread, if we took the 

 matter up as a whole people. The great 

 co-operative societies are the agencies to 

 which Mr. Harris must appeal at the moment. 

 If he looks round, where is he to turn ? But 

 the co-operative societies are not national 

 enough for the work. If I may repeat 

 myself I would urge that after we have so 

 arranged matters that nothing is lost of the 

 present crops, we may still further perfect 

 our orchard and kitchen garden industry that 

 five times our present yield would be gained. 

 This revolution cannot be effected by any 

 power less than the State ; the co-operative 

 society, however, has shown the supreme 

 power how to go to work and has often 

 nobly refused to become a sweater itself. 



The organised effort to produce the 

 cereals in abundance will be made only 

 when we have put entirely out of our heads 

 the question whether they will pay to grow. 

 Underlying the whole conception of State 

 farming there ought to be the final considera- 

 tions of safety and the average comfort of 

 the people. There is no real safety in the 

 present conditions ; there is little comfort ; 



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