FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 213, 16 February 1915, Page 6

FARM AND DAIRY.

GERMAN AGRICULTURE. BEFORE TIIIS WAR. The position of agriculture in the Herman Empire is of moment to us. In sense, indeed, it is almost of as much interest as the. standing of rural industry in tlio Home Country and British possessions. It is generally agreed that in the conduct of any great war, and above all a European war, the question of foodstuffs is aa important, as, if not more important than, any other. People must eat to live, armies must he fed. •Napoleon laid down the dictum long ago that an army fights on its stomach. While military authorities hold there id a possibility of a long war, commercial and financial experts consider that the exigencies of finance and the failure of food supplies render such n. thing impracticable. It remains to bo seen who is right. The whole world is facing un- | known and untried conditions, and it is certain that many ideas, both military and commercial, will require adjustment in tho presence of hard facts. But the significance of food supplies is inescapable; its relevancy is apparent to the humblest lay mind. It would lie idle and ioolish to ignor*the fact tli.it farming in Germany is of ft high order, says a writer in the Sydney Morning Herald, in discussing the question. 'filer,, is no sense in disguising tlio good qualities of an antagonist —our lighting strength is the greater in knowing his resources and capabilities. The merits of German agriculture have long l;eeu n-engii se.l. In happier times we have referred to them and instanced methods which it would be profitable to emulate. That is, bearing always in mind the inherent differences between the Teuton character and our own. Jn the efforts made of recent years to promote a greater eo-operative spirit amongst English agriculturists, the difference in national atti.hutes H. in some quarters, overlooked. Certain conditions can bo promoted more easily amongst a race accustomed to bureaucratic methods than amongst a people of more individualistic tendencies. While the thoroughness of German farming might be adopted by the majority of Anglo-Saxon farmers, it does not follow that other methods which have been successful in Germany would be successful either in Great Britain or here, not, at least, without long preparation amongst the rural population. It would seem that the German authorities have realised fully the importance of agriculture. In bis- rpeont.lv published book, "Imperial Germany," Princo von Bulow says:—"Owing to the sense of security induced by a long period of peaceful prosperity, we are more inclined than is good for us to make our arrangements with regard to economic matters as if this peace would be permanent. As in times of war industry is dependent on the buying power of agriculture, the productive power of agriculture is a vital question of the whole nation." And, again, "counljries where agriculture nourishes, countries where at least a great part of the population is engaged in tilling the soil, where agriculture supplies t!ie home market in I part, and provides a large proportion of | the necessary food stufis, have greater | powers of resistance in critical times. 1 and recover far mnre easily after such, I than countries that are dependent enI tirely on commerce and industry. Even j tlio highest industrial wages are of no avail if tho workman tan buy no food in the country with his money. And this state of things can arise, if, in tune of war, the frontiers arc wholly or largely closed, and home agriculture is not in a position to provide a sufficient i amount of food stuffs." j It was tmeh considerations that ereatj ed a strong tariff protecting agricul- • ture. Although this movement was bitterly opposed, the agrarian influence, which is powerful, stood out for still ■ higher protection. The tarilf of 1002 was considered a "middle course" which studied agrarian' interests, nndj it is claimed that under the influence of the new tariff and the commercial treaties based on it German agriculture, experienced a decade of vigorous development. Certainly there was a marked increase in production, although other eau-rs may have operated. Between 18!)5 and 1007 the amount of live stock

increased greatly—cattle by about 3,000,000 head and pigs by about 5,300,000. The yield of rye (a very important crop

in mid-Europe) in 100!) was 11,300,000 tons, as against 0,000,000 tons in 1S05; wheat, 3.750,000 tons, as against 2,800,0(10; barley, 3,500,000, as against 2,400,000; oats," 0,100,000 tons, as against 5,200,000; potatoes, 46,700,000 tons, as against 31,700,000.

Apart from tiie assistance of a protective tariff, German agriculture has profited by great co-operative organisation in the. rural industries. There is a combination of State-aid and co-opera-tive effort, which, it is held, leaves full scope for the activity of the latter, with less risk of the demoralisation that results when the State undertakes duties or details better left to others. Agricultural organisation has reached certainly a, wonderful position in Germany. In 1010 there were some 24,000 co-opera-tive concerns, including 15,520 loan and savings banks, 2205 societies for collective purchase, and 3304 dairy societies. These banks are associated with and partly financed by 3u central banks, the total turnover of which in 1909 was £245,G51>,000. More than half of these rural banks (8413) are affiliated to central societies for the purchase of goods. The result of such organisation, amongst others, is that land-owners can obtain money on favorable terms, a great aid to agricultural developments.

Nevertheless, Germany, in common with other modern nations, has experienced a How of population towards the cities, consequent upon the growth of industrialism, Despite the economic and educational steps taken to foster agriculture, in 1012 only 2S (i per cent, of the total population was employed in the agricultural industries, as against, 47 per cent, in IS7O. As statistics show, the rural communities supply a far higher percentage of men fitted for military service, it is not surprising that I'riuce llulow writes: —"These figures are of very serious import. They showthat every weakening of agriculture means a weakening of our power of defence, a diminution in our national strength and safety."