England Herself. By Roll Gardiner. (Faber. 85. 6d.) LEST agriculture
in this country should again witness the frustra- tion and disillusionment which followed the first world -war, it would be well for as many interested people as possible to read and criticise such "ventures in rural reconstruction as these by Mr. Rolf Gardiner. There cannot be too much discussion on the subject. Here is a man who, whether we agree with his methods or not, sincerely tried to lead a way out of the morass of those inter-war years. It was not an easy task. Perhaps, if Mr. Gardiner's endea- vours had stopped short at -agriculture, he might not have met with quite so much opposition; but for him agriculture could not be segregated from the rest of living ; and so he included in his pro- gramme the linking of husbandry with music and folk-dance and festival. "Struggling uncomfortably with the stiff collars of English self-consciousness there were individuals here and groups there who strove within themselves and their age ; but this earnestness of search and purpose . . . found no response in the leadership of the nation and was regarded as exotic or merely as ' interesting.' " The scene of these earnest endeavours was a semi-derelict estate in Wessex which Mr. Gardiner acquired. The war has necessarily called a halt to some of the experiments he conducted there, in farming, afforestation, rural industries and agricultural education ; but Springhead itself remains, a "dedicated centre" to which (as to various other centres up and down the land) men may turn again with the restoration of peace "to discover the truth for themselves and to receive the skills with which to match their purpose." Such places may well have ar: important part to play in the healing of the nation.
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