THE STATE AS FARMER 117 



farmer has not danced. It represents the ill- 

 paid exertions of a very valuable body of men 

 who, if they were given a free hand, could 

 soon bring vast volumes of additional produce 

 out of our home acres besides turning out 

 yearly a regiment of students prepared to 

 carry through the very wisest treatment of 

 the land. It is not possible to suggest a 

 subject of research or experiment which bears 

 on the question of British farming that is not 

 engaging the attention of our professors ; and, 

 in order that as much ground as possible 

 may be covered, efforts are being made to 

 plan out and co-ordinate the labours among 

 the various staffs. I have had the privilege 

 of visiting many of the colleges, but not all, 

 and the impression left upon me is one of 

 indignation with our land system which makes 

 so little use of its leaders and guides. If we 

 could bring ourselves to believe that land can 

 be private property and its mismanagement 

 a matter of indifference to the body of citizens, 

 we might shut our eyes to, and shrug our 

 shoulders at, our present state. But this is 

 impossible : the war has shown us how 

 imperative it is for everyone to feel his 



