It is at least a good omen that the local
distribution of crops is becoming less uncommon. Some of the railways— much to be congratulated on the example—are buying all the oats for their heavy horses from farmers in the neigh- bouring counties. A good many poultrymen will buy local wheat of any quality directly it is harvested, even before it is matured, and give the price of the best. Here and there firms and institutions are effectively encouraging the baking of an exclusively English loaf, which is " nuttier " to the taste than any other and keeps very much longer. Again, there is at least one firm of brewers in East Anglia who set the fashion of advertising a product in which only British' barley and hops were used. All this, perhaps, does not amount to a very great deal, but it at least indicates a satisfactory movement. Another helpful movement is the purchase of produce at the roadside. A large Lincolnshire farmer will have sold, he calculates, £390 worth in this way ; and some surprising figures have been recorded in Kent and Berkshire, to mentIon no other counties.
W. BEACH THOMAS.
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