THE STATE AS FARMER 133 



might have been some hope of the present 

 regime, but, when the figures are looked at, 

 the student must, however sympathetic he 

 may be, give up our ancient nobility and 

 gentry in this connection with a sigh. 



They are now looking feverishly for vacant 

 spaces from which to supply the country's 

 need for food ! 



The land, then, and its annual value, which 

 will change not only with our own seasons 

 but in sympathy with those of the whole world, 

 when made public property in the real sense, 

 will exert a remarkable influence upon our 

 new life. No one will say henceforward that 

 ' it does not pay to do this or that,' but rather 

 ' how can we work the land so that it may be 

 most useful to all the members of the State ? ' 

 The goods that can be brought here as a 

 surplus from other countries will flow round 

 the island, but will only penetrate into the 

 inner parts of it when they represent produce 

 which cannot be grown here. The Siberian 

 egg will not be found under the new conditions 

 in the wholesale co-operative store, as it is 

 now, side by side with the egg of the parish 

 where the store is. The factor of transport 



