16 PKOGBESS IN OTHEK COUNTKIES 



increased its number of pigs by 12,000,000 with an 

 equal diminution in the number of its sheep, and this 

 fact is, no doubt, connected with the restricted area 

 of grazing grounds ; but in the production of meat 

 and milk, per acre of farm land, Germany is well 

 ahead of England, though in the former country the 

 percentage of farm land devoted to fodder production 

 is only 32, whereas in the latter it is 69. 



The progress of German agriculture is enthusiastic- 

 ally proclaimed in Germany, and it is admitted by 

 competent observers of other countries. Further 

 evidence of the reality of this progress is afforded by 

 the relatively high number of men and women, per 

 acre, employed in agriculture, the enhancement in the 

 wages of farm labourers, and the large increase that 

 has taken place both in the sale price and in the 

 rentals of farm lands. In considering the causes of 

 this remarkable agricultural progress we may again 

 classify the factors into three main groups. 



The fundamental economic measures taken to pro- 

 mote prosperity in agriculture were prompted by an 

 appreciation in Germany of the political and social 

 value of a strong and prosperous peasantry, and a 

 desire to secure the national food supply. They con- 

 sisted of a series of measures to create and to maintain 

 a suitable division of the land into farms of a con- 

 venient size. These measures are described in detail 

 elsewhere.* As a result, 70 per cent, of the farm land 



* Vide pp. 226-230, 



