Page:The empire and the century.djvu/613

 At the outset only two classes of settlers can be regarded as really suitable—i.e.:

(a) Stock-farmers, including in the term dairy, pigs, and poultry;

(b) Small cultivators of specialized crops.

To both classes must be added the further limitation—a capital not less than £400 to £1,000.

Cereal farming, though the land admits of it, would not be profitable for the settler, because the local market is too small to make it worth while, and until freight is enormously reduced, cultivation for export to the Motherland, though it may one day be profitable, could only be carried on now at a dead loss. Many critics, looking for that fine ideal—an Empire self-supporting in foodstuffs—comment adversely on present discouragement of wheat cultivation in Mashonaland where the conditions are favourable. But, after all, economic laws govern even the supply of food. England will not pay a price above the ruling market-rate for wheat, because the consignment comes from Rhodesia; but at current rates the exporting farmer will lose money, and that arrangement would not be Imperialism, but folly.

Stock-farming is pre-eminently the industry of Matabeleland and the North-East province, and the country is extraordinarily healthy for cattle. But some years ago disease was imported from other Colonies and countries, and during two or three seasons the herds of healthy Rhodesia have been decimated by rinderpest, redwater, or African Coast fever. It is idle to deny that until more effective means are taken to eradicate, and then to protect efficiently against a recurrence of disease, Rhodesian stock-farming must remain risky. The process of clearing off the sick cattle, disinfecting the pasturage they occupied, and fencing the country will be a costly one, whether undertaken in its entirety by the Chartered Company to-day, or by a settlers' Government, responsible only to the Crown, presently; but it will have to be done, and then stock-farming will