NORFOLK V. A CROPPING ROTATION 17 



The unfortunate part is that they have been quite 

 content to produce milk, beef, etc., from the natural 

 forage, grass, whereas the whole gist of the continuous 

 cropping argument is that by substituting what we call 

 artificial forage crops, in place of grass, we could 

 produce double and treble the amount of milk, beef, 

 and bacon, etc., than is possible to raise under a grass- 

 growing regime. 



This means a revival of arable farming, but on lines 

 suitable to the labour and climate conditions. 



It should not be understood that we are arguing 

 entirely against corn growing. This is to a certain 

 extent necessary for a continuous-cropping system of 

 farming, especially where continuous cropping is fol- 

 lowed on a large scale ; but with corn as with other 

 crops, more intensive and less risky methods than those 

 which at present obtain are necessary.* In fact, the 

 continuous cropping system in certain districts would 

 make an extension of corn growing possible. We 

 are arguing against the whole hoggers, who favour corn 

 growing and roots on a very much extended area, and 

 this, even with the assistance of a certain amount of 

 Protection, is not possible and would not be profitable. 



THE HISTORY OF THE NORFOLK SYSTEM 



The Norfolk system was devised nearly two hundred 

 years ago by Lord Townshend. At that time the 

 system pretty well revived agriculture, but, to repeat, 

 things have changed ; amongst them probably the 

 climate itself. 



Wlien, for instance, does one nowadays see the old- 

 fashioned winter of frost and snow except on a 

 Christmas card ? 



Again, the annual rainfall in the Norfolk area is 



* See Book II, Continuous Cropping^ or, Farming on Factory Lines, 

 for large farmers. In preparation. 

 B 



