se
the area under cultivation by fifty per cent. and the product per acre
by 20 per cent. we shall have an increase in product of 80 per cent.,
which would provide for an increase in the population of 80,000,000
without any greater leaning upon foreign resources than to-day.[14]

We are likely, however, to lean upon certain foreign resources, and
more especially upon Canada and the Caribbean countries. Whatever its
political allegiance Canada is and will probably remain economically a
part of the United States. The Iowa farmers, who sold out their home
farms to buy cheaper land in Canada, unconsciously illustrated the
closeness of this economic bond. We may draw upon Canadian wheat,
fish, lumber and iron ore almost exactly as though the territory were
our own. It is Canada's interest to sell to us and buy from us, and
even preferential duties cannot entirely overcome our immense
geographical advantage over Europe. Similarly {181} we shall draw upon
the Caribbean countries, whether or not we have a political union, for
vast quantities of tropical food stuffs.

Whatever our importation of food an increase in agricultural efficiency
is also probable. We have already improved and cheapened our farm
machinery and have disseminated agricultural education and information.
But much progress remains to be made. We can use better seeds, raise
better crops and cattle, and work more co-operatively instead of
individualistically. Our transportation system can be better
co-ordinated with our agriculture, so that food, now wasted because it
will not pay the freight, can be brought to market.[15] A better
knowledge of the science of farming would greatly increase our
agricultural production. If our country roads were improved, if we
varied our crops more intelligently, if we refrained from impoverishing
our soils, if we drained some tracts and irrigated others, we should
speedily discover a vast increase in our agricultural productiveness, a
larger return to the farmers, a greater home demand for manufactured
products, and a better opportunity for capital at home. {182} If by
putting more capital and intelligence upon our farms, we were to add
several billions to the value of their output, we should broaden the
base of our whole economic life, enlarge the volume of our
non-competitive exports, and in the end approximate conditions that
would make for a peaceful foreign policy and for the promotion of an
economic internatio