16 THE SPIRIT OF THE SOIL 



have therefore no reason to fear any artificial stop- 

 page of our overseas supplies. The Navy, despite 

 its success, cannot influence the shortage in corn- 

 stuffs that has been brought about inevitably owing 

 to the war. 



As Mr. Fielding points out, it is the richest wheat 

 area of France that has suffered German invasion; 

 East Prussia and Galicia, both of which have suffered 

 invasion, are the most important grain-growing areas 

 in Germany and Austria. Belgium in normal times 

 is a wheat importer, but with her territory violated 

 will have grown less than usual, and will have to 

 make a larger demand than usual on the general 

 supply. Russia, in normal times a large exporter, 

 can now not only have little if any to export, but 

 with the Dardanelles at present closed may be unable 

 to send any supplies to the European market. The 

 shortage of the European harvest is estimated by 

 Mr. Fielding to be very large, and the only source 

 from which an increased supply over the normal 

 can reasonably be expected is from Canada ; and the 

 bulk of any Canadian increase of wheat must be at 

 the expense of reduction of other crops in Canada. 

 The situation therefore is that, with the shortage 

 of European output caused by the war, other 

 countries of the world will have to supply enor- 

 mously increased quantities. 



To meet the present deficiency and to make Great 

 Britain self-supporting there is no need to have 

 recourse to such sensational means as the bringing 

 of Scottish deer forests under cultivation. All that 

 would be required would be to reallot the uses. to 



