11 APRIL 1931, Page 16

I am tempted to quote a passage from a wholly

admirable letter now procurable, gratis, from the Ministry of Agriculture : " The farms of England and Wales cannot feed our whole popula- tion but they can and do produce vast quantities of food which is superior to imported supplies by reason of quality, flavour, freshness and, frequently, nourishment—and they might produce more if it could be sold. Yet there is a widespread public preference for home produce which remains unsatisfied because of the inability to identify or to obtain homo produce in markets and shops. So there are willing producers and willing purchasers and the problem is simply how to bring them together. The problem is one of marketing, so also is the solution. First of all, home produce had to be given standards of quality called grades, and then this graded produce had to be given a mark by which it could be identified. In order to make buying easy, one mark, the National Mark, is being or will be used for all graded produce of England and Wales, and, in order to give confidence to buyers, this mark conveys, by law, a guarantee

that the quality of the produce is of the grade stated." '

Every household caterer should know how to procure National Mark produce. By a wise co-operation with countrywomen these letters are now often circulated at meetings of Women's Institutes which are putting more and more energy into the agricultural side of their activities. It is a pretty example of the better social organization of our villages that some of the elementary schools are taking heed of the women's work and views. For example, articles in the quite admirable little magazine, edited by the Norfolk Federation, are read in the schools where also some of the latest pamphlets on husbandry including, I am proud to hear, " Where the Land Dies," also find their way into the school curriculum. This return to what is called " the rural bias " is wise and welcome.

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