A FREE FARMER IN A FREE STATE.*
THE Dutch have achieved such a brilliant success, not only in creating land for themselves out of the sea, but also in cultivating it to the highest state of efficiency, that it is extremely useful to have a concise account of their recent progress. This is furnished in a book by Mr. Robertson- Scott ("Home Counties "), which he describes as "a study of rural life and industry and agricultural politics in an agricultural country." According to Mr. Robertson-Scott lie Dutch are in many ways the leading agriculturists of Europe. For example, Dutch growers of grapes are beating even French growers. In Holland, as in Denmark, the co-operative system has immensely assisted the develop- ment of agriculture, and it is interesting to note that the system is entirely voluntary in origin, and only received recognition from the Government when its success had been proved. Indeed, the note of the Dutch farmer is self-help, and inspired by that spirit he has great contempt for such artificial props as a protective tariff might afford. Unlike English farmers, who are in many cases leaning towards protection, the Dutch farmer is a strong Free Trader. Among many other interesting matters in Mr. Robertson-Scott's book is an account of the way in which land has been improved by a wholesale transference of soil from one part of the country to the other. The book is plentifully illustrated with photographs, and contains a mass of useful miscellaneous facts.
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