SmPTrcMRER, 1010,1 



255 



Miscellaneous. 



the relationship of the industry to other 

 industries and to the welfare of the 

 country as a whole. 



While often approached from a super- 

 ficial and local standpoint, both classes 

 of questions turn upon economic condi- 

 tions which reach deep into the systems 

 developed in this country for producing, 

 transporting, and distributing the pro- 

 ducts of the soil. Considering the vital 

 importance of the subject this interest 

 is timely, aud it presents an opportu- 

 nity which should not be lest sight of. 

 The present situation strongly empha- 

 sizes the need and the utility of thorough- 

 going economic studies in this field, and 

 it likewise brings out the dearth of data 

 at present available for an intelligent 

 and effective consideration of the econo- 

 mics of the food supply of the people. 



Gradually the underlying importance 

 of agricultural production to human 

 progress and welfare has impressed itself 

 upon a few writers, who have set forth 

 in no uncertain terms the trend of the 

 present practice and its inadequacy to 

 meet the needs of the near future. It 

 has been shown that production oi the 

 staples in this country is not keeping 

 pace with the increased home demand, 

 and thatwithoutachangein the methods 

 of farming and the establishment of a 

 permanent, self-sustaining agriculture, 

 such as has not yet been established in 

 any country, the food supply of the 

 future will not be adequate to meet the 

 needs of the teeming millions. 



Farming in the true sense, under sys- 

 tems whieh conserve the fertility instead 

 of mining it, has been little practised as 

 yet, and the skimming process has been 

 transferred from one section to another 

 until the limit has been nearly reached. 

 More conservative and thorough methods 

 are already forced upon the farmers in 

 some sections, involving; more efficient 

 but usually more expensive production. 

 The settling up of the new lands and 

 the passing of the open range have 

 brought about new economic conditions 

 of production, which have been far- 

 reaching in their influence. 



Suddenly, almost, the people are made 

 to feel the result of such changes in an 

 increased price of staple products, and 

 interest in the subject becomes wide- 

 spread and intense. The attempts of 

 the public to account for this advance 

 are only partially effective. They are 

 often one-sided, aud lay undue emphasis 

 on certain factors which are singled out. 

 A true sense of proportion and a careful 

 weighing of all contributory influences 

 are lacking, aud this makes the generali- 

 sations subject to attack. While much 

 light may be thrown on the subject by 



various forms of inquiries, such inquiries 

 must inevitably laek)in scientific quali- 

 ties, because the data are not at hand 

 for a thorough scientific study nor the 

 means for acquiring that data. 



Even among economists there is diver- 

 gence of opinion as to the cause and the 

 legitimacy of the recent advance in 

 prices, and also as to what stage from 

 the farmer to the consumer is chiefly 

 responsible for the change, or profits 

 unduly by it. In the absence of definite 

 economic studies in this field, the dis- 

 cussion of the subject becomes to a con- 

 siderable extent a matter of speculation, 

 and the public is without guidance. It 

 sees the result and arrives at conclusions 

 hastily. Broad deductions are made 

 which are very largely based on general 

 opinion, often coloured by the personal 

 point of view. Without the facts, re- 

 sponsibility for the cause can be shifted 

 iron one stage to another to the added 

 confusion of the consumer. He is misled 

 by his own deductions and by misre- 

 presentations, and is incited to unjust 

 and ineffective action. 



In the meantime the farmer, who must 

 look ahead in his business, and must 

 always bear an undue share of the risk 

 of production aud distribution, stands in 

 great danger of suffering most from 

 such an agitation. Whatever agency the 

 popular mind fixes the responsibility 

 for high prices upon, there is danger 

 that the burden will be shifted to his 

 shoulders, because he is unorganised 

 and less able to defend himself; and 

 a disturbance of economic conditions 

 at once affects his business and adds 

 to his uncertainties. It becomes diffi- 

 cult for him to plan ahead, and he is 

 without means to protect himself from 

 the results of agitation or the whims 

 of the market. 



Herein lies an argument for thorough- 

 going economic studies, made in a 

 scientific manner, which shall marshal 

 and weigh all the facts and put a 

 scientific interpretation upon them. 

 The farmer is only one factor, but his 

 interest is very large and important. 

 The fact is that the whole industrial 

 system of production and distribution 

 of food supplies is involved. The sub- 

 ject is a complex and complicated one, 

 and is a work for experts. 



The question is a much larger one 

 than the ultimate price of potatoes and 

 the accrued profit. It lies at the basis 

 of a fundamental industry, and a reason- 

 able return for brains and capital and 

 labour devoted to it. Upon it rests the 

 opportunity of the largest body of real 

 wealth producers in the world— the deve- 

 lopment of the conditions of the farmer 



