12 Worthlessness of Bi-metallism, Protection, etc. 



III. The cheapest maniire for soil is a turf composed 



largely of deep-rooting plants. 



IV. The cheapest, deepest, and best tillers, drainers, 



and warmers of the soil are roots. 

 But before proceeding to prove that a cheaply-created 

 turf is the only solution for our agricultural difficulties, 

 it may be well to notice the solutions that are thought 

 by some to present certain prospects of cure for the 

 unfortunate conditions of our times ; for, by first of all 

 disposing of these, we shall be able to fix our attention 

 more exclusively on those factors which alone can set 

 our agriculture on a footing Avith the requirements of 

 the age. 



Only let us have bi-metallism, assert some, and prices 

 will rise, and our old system of farming again become 

 profitable. Only, declare others — and no doubt a very 

 considerable number — let us have Protection to an 

 amount that would raise corn to a paying level, and all 

 would go well with our agriculture. Only let us have 

 good land legislation, and improved means of securing 

 the interests of the farmer, and our agriculture, with a 

 vastly-increased capital spent upon it, owing to proper 

 security for the tenant having been provided, 

 would again flourish exceedingly. As to the first, we 

 have no means of proving what would occur if bi- 

 metallism was adopted, and there seems to be no 

 prospect whatever of any such general agreement on the 

 subject amongst the nations of the world as would 

 enable any system of bi-metallism to be carried out. 

 And, as for the second point, there seems to be quite as 

 small a prospect of Protection ever being adopted in 

 England within any time worth considering. Nor, un- 

 less it were carried out to a very high amount, have we 

 reason to suppose, judging by what has taken place close 

 to our shores, that Protection to a moderate amount 

 could so far favour the farmer as to make grain for sale 

 profitable. For in France there is Protection, which 

 gives the agriculturist there 8s. 2d. more per quarter, 



