Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-04-06
ENGLAND MUST GROW
more FOOD FOR PEOPLE
Submarine Warfare Taught Nation
Lesson Resulting in Great.
- or Efficiency.
BECOMES NATIONAL POLICY
Farmers of United States, Who Arc
Notorious for Their Wastcful
Methods, May Learn Something To
Their Own Benefit.
ny PATRICK o,FLAHERrr.

LONDON, April 5.-Now that the
war is ended what is Britain's per-
manent agricultural policy to be: Will
agriculture continue 20 be the hobby
of y mining and manufacturing ma
t:on? What proportion of Britain's
food supplies shall be grown at homo ?
Shall tho national blowing policy.
the policy of converting pasture land
into arabic laud--con,inue? Shall the
British devote the legacy of labor
which the end of the war has be-
pueathod 10 them, 10 British farms,
OF to British manufacture. British
mines. British shipping, and British
trade?
that British farming fell far short OF
its opportunities Prices were high
before the war. and undou btedly it
would have paid British farmers to
tons food supplies al home than they
did. A. the same time, IL was true
that Britain made the biggest money
on; or her industrial achievements.
securing her food. or most OF it. from
overseas
!, is probable that even if it had
not been for the war, prices would
have continued 10 rise. Virgin soils in
the New World were becoming ex
hausted and the increase of popula-
but steadily decreased American food
exports. was tending inevitably toward
"a worldwide rise in prices. These
conditions would have made 1t, even
Vush British farm production harder
than i: had ever been pushed before
The war prices which now and for
sometime will prevail. greatly increase
The British Isles. Doubtless the devo-
tion Of the worlds energies to the
production of munition has had the
effect o: greatly retardins the laying
g1,.s4. t,.N
America. Again the scarcity OF ship
ping and the utter paralysis of one of
the worlds greatest food sources.
Russia. has sent prices soaring. All
n.cnt OF government policy here in
britain looking toward permanent
stimulus for farming.
These. It is true, arc factors which
will diminish as time passes; but
prices higher and higher When the
influence of the war has passed, food
level than before the war. Sound eco
nomic policy. II is thought cannot
TAI to stimulate farm production in
1t must not be overlooked. too, that
much time and money has already been
: snent In Flowing up pasture land to
rine situation created. viii this land
DC reConNerteu INTO pasture lano'
question is the cost of scrapping the
agricultural machinery which has
been supplied TO cultivate the newly
converted arabic land
Terrible Toll Taken AmanE Farmers.
The war has taken a terrible toll of
EnGiands farm aborers. but il has
left no fewer acres in England than
when 1t began. 1t follows, then, that
the most important task which CON
fronts Englands farms is not to get
the most out Of each acre, but to get
tia which remain. Misdirected enter
prise and all the waste which 1t in
wolves is thing which England will
no longer be rich enough to stand.
ish government will continue TO have
much to say about tho development of
British farms.
Governmental participation in farm
ing. no matter how extensive IL may
be, VIII doubtless begin with a contin-
These fixed prices. it is assumed by
All who know. will be no higher than
the general level OF world prices. |
,Mhether such prices arc beneficial or
diner on the one hand, it may be
said that the government knows more
about the probable future of world
PRICES than any individual farmer does. |
give him the benefit OF its knowledge
IN form Of price insurance.
On the other hand. il may he argued
Wi, Win r equal VALIDITY that, liked prices
dom Of the British Board of Agricul-
iurc. but by the ignorance Of mem
Ders OF Farltenent.; and that though !
Ire ,.0I ,nor q 1Grcuiture probably does
the farmer. the farmer knows more