2 The Hen at Work 



the poorer cuts is well beyond the means of any 

 but the rich. 



The situation as to meat will improve very 

 slowly under peace conditions. With the return 

 of millions of able men, labor will be plenty, and 

 wages must inevitably drop. At the same time, 

 purchasing restrictions will probably be to a large 

 extent removed. European nations must replenish 

 herds and flocks at any cost. It takes at least three 

 years to produce a respectable beef animal. The 

 meat supply will be a long time in returning to its 

 normal level; meanwhile prices will be very high, 

 and money in the average family will be far less 

 plenty than to-day. 



With grain the situation is very different. Eng- 

 land, France, Italy, and other countries at war in 

 Europe, have greatly increased their agricultural 

 possibilities. They have installed farm machinery 

 of the latest type. England, for example, has now 

 under cultivation more land than ever in her his- 

 tory. In other countries enormous crops of grain 

 are raised. South America and Australia have 

 millions of bushels waiting for ships, and those 

 ships are plunging into the sea from hundreds of 

 yards. Thousands of these vessels will soon be 



