128 THE STATE AS FARMER 



might use the whole of the wheat crop for 

 human consumption by turning it into its 

 most nutritious as well as appetising form — 

 wholemeal bread. For practical purposes we 

 may consider that white bread represents 

 only seventy per cent, of the crop. In this 

 matter of food, therefore, we have a reserve 

 of thirty per cent, if necessity arose. And if 

 that necessity ever did arise we should never 

 return to our present foolish method of milling 

 and feeding. Wheat, then, receiving its lawful 

 place in agriculture in large or small areas 

 according to the district, we have it as a basis 

 for our own daily food, but its basis rests upon 

 a very full elaboration of all other farming 

 operations, meat, milk, and the rest. 



Now, to carry out these operations pro- 

 perly, the scheme in any district must be 

 roughly decided upon at headquarters ; and 

 the size of farms, the class of farmer, and the 

 character of crop and stock must all fall into 

 line with the district object. Here we come 

 in contact with land tenure at the lower end 

 of the scale. At present matters are about 

 as awkwardly arranged as they possibly 

 can be. A man sees a piece of land that he 



