The Country Gentleman's Estate - Book. Edited and Compiled by William Broomhall.
(2 Waterloo Place, S.W. 10s. 6d.)—The "Legislation" of the year 1903 was limited, so far as the purpose of this volume is concerned, to the "Diseases of Animals Act" (an amending law) and "Board of Agriculture and Fisheries Act." The "Estate Law," a conspectus of guiding cases, occupies more space. Various papers follow, among which "Food- stuffs in Time of War" is of special interest. The danger at present is a great deal more obvious than the remedy. One thing, however, seems pretty certain. Any preference on Canadian wheat would infallibly estrange the United States, and it is to the States that we must look for help were the very important issue—Is food a contraband of war ?—to come to the front. As things are now, the States would certainly side with us and enforce their opinion. For immediate needs, Mr. Broom- hall favours, not national granaries, but a bounty of 10s. per quarter on home-grown wheat kept in stock till January 1st, and .t1 on wheat so kept till July 1st. We may also mention an article on "Motor Transport for Goods" by Mr. Douglas Mackenzie. We may briefly say that it is not hopeful. Up to loads of six tons the working motor lorry costs more than horse-power ; above that figure it costs less. The cost of oil is at present practically prohibitive; we want "an internal combustion engine that will work with crude heavy oil instead of the expensive petrol." It is possible that a limited application of the system might pay ; a motor might take up fruit to London, supplying local retailers on the way, at a less cost than the railway charge. A great variety of miscellaneous information likely to be serviceable, for commercial and sporting purposes, follows.
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