practically no failure to pay the required instalments.

A committee has been appointed to investigate the housing question, and
its reports will no doubt contain valuable suggestions for dealing
practically and at once with a matter so vitally important to the
rebuilding of Britain.




CHAPTER XX

AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT

_In all kingdoms this first and original art
[agriculture]--this foundation of all others--must be
pursued and encouraged, or the rest will faint and be
languid._--ARTHUR YOUNG.


The most important practical reform of all is to make the land more
productive, to put it to the most profitable use. By profitable use we
do not mean using it so as to bring the owner the largest return in
money per acre, aiming at the largest net profit by reducing expenditure
as much as possible and growing whatever will fetch the highest price at
least cost of production. The really useful object is to lay out and use
all the land of the country in such a way as to produce the greatest
aggregate of commodities which are of real intrinsic value for use or
which can be exchanged for useful commodities coming from other nations;
in particular to produce in our own country as much wholesome food as