ioo THE STATE AS FARMER 



and, as to educational influences and scientific 

 atmosphere, they are nearly absent. The 

 cereals have their appropriate place in all 

 good farming, and the surpluses from them, 

 after the bulk has been devoted to the direct 

 service of man, are of the greatest value for 

 the farm stock. By scientific cultivation 

 the yield can be increased and the qualities 

 improved, the land can be made more fertile 

 for its other crops, and stock of a more 

 valuable kind can be carried. Does the idea 

 appeal to anyone, tariff reformer or free 

 trader, of British acres devoted to sport, 

 landscape painters, and weeds just because 

 we are able from time to time to purchase 

 cheap wheat and mutton from abroad for 

 our large population ? Because we are so 

 fortunate as to be able to supplement our 

 own, is that any reason for destroying our 

 own by neglect and ignorant carelessness ? 

 I have to discuss the question of land tenure 

 because this vital matter is bound up with 

 our farming methods. But I ask in this 

 place whether we are our own masters or not ? 

 If we are free people, I contend that it cannot 

 be wise to allow our own land to decay simply 



