The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-08-03

which the women nave risen to the occasion in this respect at a time when farm work is of vital importance to the nation, we feel justified in the Lelief that we are going to pull agri- culture through this crisis in spite of many apparently insuperable difficult ties.
 we realize that the problem of making as much progress as we should in war time presents its handi- caps. Among these, in addition to the shortage of farm labor already indicated, the difficulty of obtaining sufficient supplies of fertilizers and modern machinery that are so neces- sary in farming. to the greatest ad- vantage now. Then there is the shortage in shipping tonnage, restrict ing. at many turns our requirements in the matter of supplies from over seas.
 we have asked thief armer to main tain the full cultivation of the soil and the upkeep of his flocks and herds during the course of the war, and to increase them whenever possible. Un- der the unparalleled difficulties en- countered he has responded wonder fully. The difficulties of this par ticular season will be understood, in view of our efforts to replace with wo- men the men absent from the soil.
 Owing to the custom being against women working on the land in Eng land, the problem has been particu- larly difficult. The English type of farm laborer Is highly skilled and a fine fellow. He would rather have his women folk looking after the home and maintaining the children and working less about the farm.
 The only English counties in which exception is found to this attitude, or where women work habitually on the land are Northubn berland, Cum berland and Westmoreland and parts of Durham.
 ''Of course there is distinction between what countries with highly centralized governments. like those of France and Germany, can accomplish such a change in national life as we are attempting here in England and in what we can accomplish. re1er to their facilities for quick organiza- tion. In France, for instance, there is a prefect in every department and mayor in every commune. while practically the whole of Germany s population is at the order of the gov ernment. What those countries can do Dy compulsion we must accomplish by voluntary and spontaneous effort. And the machine here. therefore, is necessarily slower.
 'But the spirit of the people here is aroused, and. as usual when that is so, the desired result, Is bound to follow.
 While we are not as well equipped in this respect of Agricultural colleges as a country of larger rural population like the United States, we are paying state grants to institutions scattered over the entire country that are direct ing their energies into this vital chan mel of instructing the people in the art of agriculture. When they are furth- CT along in their task, our goal of ac- complishing the repopulation of the agricultural districts will be simplif1ed, if not solved. Likewise a splended impetus will be given the work of afforestation so badly needed through out the country.
 Cambridge University and schools and colleges at Leeds, Bristol and Reading are among the institutions that are aiding in this work of train ing our future farmers.
 But perhaps the condition to which farming has dropped in the United Kingdom may be better understood by reference to it's history. It must be remembered first that up to the time of the passing Of the Great Re- form Bill in 1892, land in this coun- try was a source of great political power.
 X "The bilrs effect in transferring the basis of power from land ownership was manifested gradually and that de- pression which was the greatest ca tastrophe in the history os agriculture did not begin until the end of the seventies. That was with the fall in the price of wheat to 24 shillings a quarter, and of corn and other farm produce in proportion. Farming, of course. ceased to be a business prop osition.
 Millions of pounds were lost, and thousands of farmers were absolute lily ruined Conditions remained very bad for farming for thirty-five years, lowing to a variety of causes an improvement occurred between 1900 and 1905 This improvement was being maintained and was increasing when the war broke out. Although 1t had placed the farmer so he was
 making a good commercial profit ten years before the war, every year saw less land under cultivation and more acres devoted to grass. The increase | in the areas going to grass was due l to the fact that farmers could make good living in that way with less risk, and the memory of the terrible experience of the depression" Lord Selborne will have something | to do with the revival of agriculture, even now that he has resigned his place as President of the Board of Agriculture, as the Prime Minister has 1 invited him to cooperate with him in | the task of reconstruction of agricul- ture after the war.
 Speaking before the Agricultural Organization Society, Lord SelboSa said:.
 "Increased food production during the war is a sacred national duty. The man on a Hampshire farm can strike a blow for England equally with his E,Io d ara The rnanner in