ii2 THE STATE AS FARMER 



that they may find an extension of production 

 sufficiently remunerative to enable them to under- 

 take and continue it. Under present circumstances, 

 producers are naturally loth to embark upon new 

 and costly experiments with a view of increasing 

 their produce unless they can feel a reasonable 

 assurance that this produce will find a sale when 

 once more subjected to the same competition as 

 that which preceded the war. At the very time last 

 year when the increased production of market garden 

 produce was being urged, gluts were occurring on 

 some of our principal markets which occasioned heavy 

 financial losses, and even, in some cases, serious 

 pecuniary embarrassment to small producers. This 

 demonstrated the risks under which alone increased 

 production could take place. Larger farmers, also, 

 who are in many instances severely handicapped 

 by the enhanced cost of feeding stuffs and fertilisers 

 and the means of production generally, find them- 

 selves in a somewhat precarious position, and the 

 present high prices and the high rate of interest make 

 it easier for them to find an immediate advantage in 

 actually decreasing their stock, than to sink their money 

 in directions which may not prove permanently 

 remunerative. It has thus become of the first 

 importance that attention should be more generally 

 directed to organisation as to the only means by 

 which large quantities of additional produce can be 

 placed on the market with a fair chance of adequate 

 remuneration. Granted organisation also, with all 



