12 SEPTEMBER 1925, Page 12

HOMECROPIING : SUSTENANCE, NOT SALES

WE publish elsewhere a very interesting letter of thanks from Professor Scott to the readers of the Spectator who have helped him in his Homecrofting experiment.

We are in the fullest agreement with Professor Scott's general observations in regard to the value of Home- crofting, and we should like to point out how much his view is really enforced by certain facts recently published which look as if they were arguments against his proposals. There have been of late a good many examples given in the Press of the failure of smallholders to carry on. Properly considered, however, these failures do not touch Homecrofting, but rather support it. The men who have failed, have failed because, owing to market difficulties, they have not been able to sell the products of their small- holdings at a profit. They have, that is, sold below the cost at which they produced. That very possibly is the Nemesis of the small agricultural unit under existing conditions, but it leaves the Homecrofter entirely un- touched. He snaps his fingers at such matters. The vagaries of the produce market, or the price put upon bacon in Chieago, or upon potatoes, fruit, or cereals here, leave him quite cold. He does not want to sell, but to consume. One's own bacon and eggs, apple dumplings, and home, spade-grown potatoes taste just as nice when the bottom has fallen out of the produce market as they did when it was booming. " If the stuff is ate by me, what care I how cheap it be ? " is his consolation. Let his slogan be " Sustenance, Not Sales." In other words, the Home- Crofter will draw his income from industry, coal mining, factory work, or agricultural work as a hedger and ditcher, or a carter, or a cowman, or a rick thatcher ; but make hearty meals upon his own produce. The advantage of the Homecrofting system lies in the fact that he can use his leisure time—in the case of a miner or factory hand, a very substantial piece of the day—in growing food to feed his family. If he sticks to that, we are con- vinced that he will do well. We are asking him and his family to fill their own stomachs, not to risk the perils of the market. Meantime, the man's weekly wages will provide clothing and things which, as the soil of England will not produce them, must be got from Overseas.

In this context we want to draw attention to the very remarkable exhibition of produce from London allot- ments, which took place last week. The verdict was that the stuff was exceedingly good in spite of London smoke, and the enthusiasm " and eagerness of the allotment holders were very remarkable. By the way, no one ever heard of an allotment being ruined or being a cause of insolvency, unless the holder forgot to till it.

We have one more word to say. It is to ask Professor Scott to do, what we are sure he will agree is the right course, that is, in the handling of his fund to be guided first, last, and all the time, by his accountant. We have seen too many good schemes wrecked on small rocks by a failure to recognize this need. Once more, though the Spectator, as we have said, takes no responsibility for the management of the fund, or for the working of the experi- ment, we wish it all possible success and shall watch it with the closest sympathy.