WHAT IS WRONG WITH BRITISH AGRICULTURE ?
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,--The suggestions with which Mr. Boving concludes his articles in your issues of November 24th and December 1st are t minently constructive, but they are not a reply to the question asked by the title.
To the question, " What is wrong with Farming ? " I would answer, firstly, Lack of Capital.. This is What most Often hinders a farmer from buying or selling to the best advantage. Further, we are forced to the conclusion that
with few exceptions growing .for sale is unprofitable-- and the laying down of land to grass and subsequent stocking need much capital. One is hopeful hoWever, that the Agri= cultural Credits Act may help us to some extent. Lack of capital also very largely prevents us from having as much of the modern machinery, motor vehicles, and well- planned buildings as we would desire in order to be able to compete with our second great handicap, which I must stYle labour ; indifferent, scarce, and hard to organize.
Only a farmer whose holding is well equipped, with good efficient machinery and has good supplies of power can hope to attract to his service or profitably engage the skilful; mechanically-minded speedy worker who so greatly tends to lessen the drudgery of most agricultural operations. These men make the lowlier units of the staff vastly more efficient and almost infinitely more easy to organize. But it is not profitable to have the highly paid men without machinery and power which must come out of funds. While on the topic of labour, I must deplore utterly the fact that the number of women • partly or wholly employed in agricultural work appears to be swiftly decreasing.
A third obstacle, which sometimes-almost- nullifies our best efforts, I am calling Bad Markets. How far this stumbling- block could be removed from our path by co-operation I am not prepared to say; But I am certain that to stock farmers the regulation as to' weighbridges at auctions is a great help and the Auctions (Bidding Agreements) Act,- 1927, oefght
to be. Further, any farmer who is worth a holding at all should have the telephone in his house ; for buying and selling it is a tremendous help, and it is a saver of time in every way. Perhaps our Government could help us over this, as they have done in other ways. • -
Fourthly, among our agricultural population . lack of education is a widespread and serious handicap. Although much is being done throughout the land to remedy this, I must own that our country is very far behind the majority in this respect. The above four answers I offer jointly as a large part of the answer to Mr. Boving's question. I venture to think, that faymers may be greatly helped; and without a very long delay, if the Press would put before them whatcan he done towards buying stock, machinery, seeds (grass), and manures through help from the Agricultural Credits Act, if they could somehow manage to acquire and use the telephone service, _perhaps at cheaper rates than now prevail, and if those who have the administration of it will urge farmers to -take the fullest advantage offered by the Electric Supply Act (16 and 17 Geo. V.) so that we can get power and light in and around our steadings which will enable our men- to function efficiently for their full time to an extent they cannot possibly do under the usual conditions found on our farm. s.—I
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