14 THE POLICY OF THE PLOUGH 



while agriculture has been " improving," as it has been 

 during the last few years, the area of arable land has 

 not ceased to dwindle. More land has continually been 

 brought down to grass. But grass land employs fewer 

 men than arable land. There is therefore this very 

 menacing paradox, that even in a time of agricultural 

 improvement (say, since 1906) when farmers have had 

 appreciable inducements to embark upon a higher kind 

 of farming, the essential food of the people has been 

 produced in progressively smaller quantities. During 

 the last forty years three and a half million acres have 

 passed from arable to grass. This has meant the loss 

 of 250,000 men.^ It is estimated that each million 

 acres of grass broken up would provide under existing 

 conditions employment for an additional 40,000 men.* 



As for the contrast in food values afforded by arable 

 and grass farming, it is startling, but it is confirmed by 

 the highest agricultural experts. Normally the money 

 value of the produce of arable land is more than twice 

 that of the produce of grass land, and the food value is 

 from three to five times as great.' And the conversion 

 of grass to arable does not mean less meat or less milk 

 — for both can be raised on arable land in the same 

 quantities as on grass, in addition to the grain. 



Pope, unconsciously prophetic, described the need of 

 England now in his beautiful lines : — 



Another age shall see the golden ear 

 Embrown the slope and nod on the parterre. 

 Deep harvest bury all their pride has planned. 

 And laughing Ceres reassume the land. 



1 Minority Report^ para. 18. 



* Ibid., para. 66. ^ Ibid., para. 54. 



