THE STATE AS FARMER 147 



and women under suitable conditions. The 

 man who has to deal with manures, sheep 

 dips, the mothers and young of the stock, with 

 milking cows and feeding stuffs, in all weathers 

 and upon all soils, does not need less oppor- 

 tunities of cleanliness and health, but more 

 than his neighbours do. It may be possible to 

 divide the jobs, but on a farm this can only be 

 done to a limited extent, and each one must be 

 prepared at certain times to do his or her 

 colleague's work. But if we are really going to 

 improve our methods upon the land, and if we 

 hope to attract and keep a due proportion 

 of our best people there, we have before us a 

 great and urgent duty in this matter of housing. 

 The first practical difficulty lies in the fact 

 that we cannot design and get estimates for 

 a series of cottages of different sizes which 

 will be suitable for any village in any county. 

 Materials vary so much and price with them. 

 But an agency such as the Rural Housing 

 Organization Society can do a great deal 

 towards the establishment of a public taste 

 and standard. I think that I may venture 

 to say, without much fear of contradiction, 

 that the difference between awkwardness 

 and convenience, between beauty and Ugli- 



ly 2 



