246 PROBLEMS OF VILLAGE LIFE 



worthless, the effect is wonderful, and can 

 be seen for miles ; the results in feeding 

 stock are most marked, not only in the 

 increase of growth, but in the quality of the 

 grass." 



The fiscal difficulties in the way of extensive 

 land purchase by the State would disappear if 

 British Cabinets seriously applied themselves 

 to the task. But for this purpose a radical 

 change must take place in our political outlook. 

 We must realize that in no direction could the 

 nation find a better use for its spare wealth than 

 in buying the land of our own country. In 

 seven years, 1906-1913, over a hundred 

 millions of national debt has been paid off. 

 Had we employed all or even a portion of this 

 immense sum to secure vast tracts of national 

 land at a fair and reasonable price, fixed by 

 the Government's valuation, we should have 

 benefited posterity to a far greater extent 

 than by a mere reduction of the interest to be 

 paid by future generations. The develop- 

 ment of our soil on a basis of solid business, 

 freed altogether from the fatal interference 

 of " sport " or else deriving a handsome return 

 from its privileged continuance within care- 

 fully maintained limits such a policy would 

 help to banish unemployment, render our 

 population less dependent on sea-borne food, 



