Pioneer

The Need for a Positive Theory of Socialism. By SYD JONES. U To the destructive criticism of the present E capitalistic system, there is searely any dis- ( agreement. The effects of exploitation are seen j in every t-own and village. It is when we pro- pose to construct the opposite to what is that we experience opposition and denial. If the Socialist, did no more than criticise, no harm would be done, and the defenders of Capitalism would allow him to go on in his own sweet way. We may protest till the crack of doom as long as we delay tho action. The reaction of Conservatism and the legislation of Liberalism are not in any way new. They have manifelStod themselves as factors in each successive stage ? of social development. But they have necessar- ily been produced by active opposition. col-t- i seryatism and Liberalism, as urinornles of a [  11 oeijles of social class, exist not merely in Úolitics, but {• in education, industry and religion. We have f liberal theology, profit-sharing iinlustry, secular education. Ihese are schemes for mental pro- gress consistent with the demand for social progress. I here are also patent to that poli- tical state where Capitalism has overcome the difficulties of Conservative institutions. They are also compromises between land and church and capital and machinery. The elements of the old are allowed in order to gain the initi- ation of the new. Social conditions have improved more rapidly duimg the last fifty years than in all the two thousand years preceding, due to the effect of the class struggle of the landlord class and the manufacturing class But economic em- ancipation has not been realised. The tenden- cies of present day society, which are essentially capitalistic, look to maintaining the balance. Exploitation goes on apace, and the product is withhold from the people. It is interesting to note here the balance of forces in the material and so the mental field. In the mental fieid we have an Agnosticism which fears to go forward with a positive theory of life. It chooses a state l of doubt. In the material field there is also that econo- mic Agnosticism which oompromises with the nobility and the bourgeoisie (capitalist class), and which cannot allow itself to travel beyond the bounds of the "jwst of all possible worlds." The proletariat (non-propertied class) are !eft here in their bewilderment—a bewild- erment partly of their own creation. It. would appear that we were at the apex of philoso- phy, and the limits of understanding. Mater- ial satisfaction has been attained in the devel- opment of the propertied classes who have sub- dued all things to itself, including theology and philosophy. At this stage of mental doubt and economic comprising toe proletarian philosophy comes up- on the held with its power born of the class struggle and its understanding of reality. The last of the classes in their struggle for free- dom It. postultes that conception of the world that there can be no freedom in things men- tal until mastery has been attained of things material. ft recognises the fact of historical development. Capitalism, with its antithesis of wage slavery, is a phase in the evolution of organic and social life. It is a necessary phase. Primitive communism was also a preceding phase to private property. The latter has now 4 fettered the activities within Its own domain, j The prodigious powers of production which h;n"o been achieved bv private capitalism can- not find scope for itself. Combination for power is the order of the day. This achievement. is seen in its rational sense by the Socialist the- > ory. The key to the philosophy of capitalism is the philosophy of Socialism. • This is the positive outcome of all speculative theory. It is definite in its aim, and has no spooks. It is rational in its application, for it in based on t the scientific organisation of material things. I It is destructive first, and constructive after- 1 wards. The historic mission of the proletariat is tlsat when they free themselves they free all. The basis of the Socialist doctrine is not in the need so much as the consciousness of its historical position among the classes. Hitherto they have merely felt their way They have acted instinctively, not consciously. But industrial democracy is now becoming con- J scions of its place and mission, and by its t own organised effort it will undoubtedly de termine its destiny.

This terrible war is killing a lot of businesses. Make it a personal resolve that the Pioneer shall not bp, killed.

Gardening Notes. I If any rea.der who is in a difficulty with refer- ence to his garden will write directly to the address given beneath, his questions will all be answered, free of charge, in full detail, and biv return of post.—EDITOR. .MANURING FRUIT TREES. Manurial Requirements of Fruits. Normal crops of average quality fruit are secured without direct manuring from soils suitable for fruit cultures, but larger yields of superior qualities are obtained only by liberal fertilising, The stimulus given to growth by judicious fertilising sometimes enables fruit plants to overcome unfavourable or adverse conditions. From a manurial point of view. the necess- ary elements of pfcmt growth are nitrogen, pot- ash. phosphoric acid and lime, and unless an ample supply of each of these be present good results are not to be expected. Nitrogen en- courages foliage growth, and the greater the leaf growth the stronger and more extended is the root system. Potash forms a large pro- portion of the ashes of fruit and fruit trees phosphoric acid is required to ensure proper ripening: and lime appears to strengthen the wood of trees and tends to early maturity of both tree and fruit. Farmyard Manure, Farmyard manure supplies nitrogen, phosph- oric acid and potash, and is the best means of enriching most soils for fruit culture, as it furnishes humus and improves their physical condition by making them more retentive of water and easily permeable, so that artificial d ei,e d as su l) manures must in no case be considered as sub- stitutes for stable dung, but rather as useful additions, to be employed in conjunction with it. In regularly tilled orchards the use of farmyard manure has sometimes to be discon- tinued, as too much n trogen induces unduly exuberant foliage growth. It is a good plan to make the yearly dressings alternately dung and chemical fertilisers. When economy has to be observed in the use of natural manure, green-manuring and commercial fertilisers form a satisfactory substitute. Heavy dressings of iarmyard dung are specially desirable in the case of old and neglected orchards. An autumn or winter application of from 5 to 10 tons of farmyard manure at least once in every four years ensures some supply of humus, and im- proves the physical condition of the land. Nitrogen. This element of plant food tends to rapid production of wood and foliage. Indeed, the condition of the leaves may be regarded as an index to the quantity of nitrogen in the land enough being present when they are large and of deep green colour Poor growth and small, yellowish-green leaves usually indicate the need of additional nitrogen, but as these symptoms also result from a lack of water, especially in pasture or meadow land, and as excess of nitrogen may cause actual injur- by producing t.o exuberant vegetative growth, which seldom properly matures in the case of stone-fruits, and which may seriously disturb the bearing habit, it is ordinarily safer and more satisfac- tory to supply nitrogen by turning in legum- inous crops and by hastening nitrification with careful tillage in conjunction with dressings of potash and phosphoric acid, rather than by direct applications of nitrogenous fertilisers. Weakly, neglected and old trees are sometimes restored to vigour by a lightish dressing of nit- rate of soda of sulphate of amnionia. The gen- eral tendency of nitrogen is to induce late rip- ening and only partially coloured fruit. I Potash. Though the available supply is increased by regular tillage, potash must be annually supplied to fruit plantations in the form of some commercial fertiliser, preferably as uiuri- at,) of potash-, applied at the rate of from 150 to 3001bs. per acre yearly to bearing trees. Sulphate of potash and kaipit are also excellent potash manures for fruit. Phosphoric Acid. This element of growth is less important for fruit trees than, is potash it is usuaUy sup- plied as superphosphate or bones, finely ground or dissolved, at the rate of from 200 to SOOlbs per acre. Basic slag in moderate quantities seems to give excellent results. Lime. I Every fourth or fifth year a dressing of I lime should be given to aid in the breaking down of organic manures and to supply suffi- ciency of lime for plant growth. Notes on Manuring. It is only when an orchard is not yielding as it should that a change of treatment be- comes necessary. Trees which run to vigorous foliage rather than to fruit-bearing may be checked by giving them less nitrogen with more potash and phosphoric acid, and by lessening nitrification by decreasing- the tillage. On the other hand. when trees do not make sufficiently strong growth, nitrogen or moisture (or both) is deficient in the soil. Moisture is retained by regular tillage, started early in spring, and involving the maintenance of a loose surface- mulch of two or three inches of soil; while nitrogen is generally most cheaply supplied by t'llage and by of green and farmyard f 11 age and by dressings of green and farmyard manure, which also furnish the humus or vege- table master indispensable for ameliorating all kinds of soil, especially hard and lumpy lands. In general terms liberal dressings of potash and phosphoric aoid are required on all lands though low-lying, moist and rich soils are likely only to lie deficient in phosphates, while potash and nitrates will probably be lacking in lighter, higher situated and more exposed lands. It is a good plan to give orchard trees a dressing of soot every three or four years, cov- ering the ground as far as the branches reach TILLAGE OF FRUIT LANDS. Saving Soi; Moisture. Tillage is an essential agent for conserving soil moisture for the use of plants; but shallow cultivation alone is not of much avail, because the underneath soil remains so hard that rain runs off it by surface drainage, instead of sink- ing into it as a reservoir on which plants may presently rely. Spe-ffking in general terms the more finely its soil particles are divided, the more water can land hold in suspension, so that the aim in ploughing to conserve mois- ture should be to make a deep and very fine bed of soil. When deep and careful ploughing is practised in autumn, a suitable bed is en- sured for the storing of winter rains, which might otherwise be lost by surface drainage. The great body of water in the soil is acted on by the force of gravity and seldom rises within 18 inches of the stuface of cultivated lands. From this gravity-water moisture rise's to the surface by capillary attraction whenever the surface soil is dryer than that beneath and so great is the power of capillarity that it can actually raise water from a depth of five or perhaps more feet. Now, as water rises more easily to the surface when the soil is well tilled than when in cloddy condition, it would at first sight appear that deep cultivation results in a loss of soil-moisture; but we have seen that deep tillage is absolutely necessary to provide the reservoir for water, and experience proves that a. well-maintained soil-mulch largely checks evaporation from land bv hreaking the capillarity tubes and so interrupting the up- ward flow of water. This soil-mulch is prepared by specially tilling the top two or three inches of soil. and it constitutes the most efficient ag- ent for preventing loss of water by evaporation. It is, of course, important to renew the soil- mulch from time to time. Not only does culti- vation of these top two or three inches actual- ly break the capillary tubes, but it covers the under-soil with a layer of soil-particles too loose for water to rise freely through it. Rolled and caked lands give off an immense amount of water by evaporation, because the capillarity tubes are in full working' order under such con- ditions. so that it is important to renew the mulch after rolling and when the surface has been eakedov rain. The harrow chosen to pre- pare the surface-mulch must be one which stirs the whole surface of the. ground, and leaves it tolerably smooth afterwards. A depth of three inches is ample for the mulch, while two inches is sufficient depth on mellow soils. On loose, sandy and gravelly soils, which are not usually adapted for fruit' culture, frequent use of the roller compacts the land. and so re- duces the size of the capillaritv tubes, which in such soils are often too large'to allow water to rise by their means to replace that -lost by evaporation and by transpiration from plants. Thus. rolling may directly heir) to supply water, but as a rolled soil is in the worst possible condition for conserving soil-water, rolling must always be followed by light harrowing to form a surface mulch. E. KEMP TOOGOOD, F.L.S., F.R.Met.S,, pro Toogood and Sons, The King's Seedsmen, Southampton,

'Phone 597. 'Phone 597. WILLIAM TRESEDER, Ltd. THE NURSERIES, CARDIFF. WREATHS, CROSSES, CUT FLOWERS, &c. BEDDING PLANTS. "-S, Stocks, Dahlias, Marguerites, Lobelia, &c. "TRESEDER, FLORIST, CARDIFF.

I Against the Men. AWARD IN ANTHRACITE DISPUTE. Judge Arthur O'Connor, who was appointed to inquire into the South Wales Anthracite Miners' claim to o per cent advance, has de- cided against the men. The men contended, during the arbitration proceedings, that they conceded 0 per cent to the employers many years ago, at a time of depression, and now, with the prosperity of the anthracite coal trade, it should be restored, and their standing rates readjusted to the rest of the coalfield. The owners argued that readjustments had long smce been made by special agreements, ocvering what has come to be termed the lost 5 per cent." The award relates the history of the question and goes minutely into its intricate details. Fi- nally Judge O'Connor decides that the conten- tion of the men cannot be supported. A totally erroneous view" (he adds) "hon- estly held and perhaps not altogether unnatu- rally entertained, has been due to a want of acquaintance with the facts of the situation in 1.882 and to a difference of presentation on the pay notes which was not understood. The men were under the impression that, as com- pared with the men in the steam coal district, j they were as if handicapped to the extent of 5 per cent. In reality at was rather the re- verse, as out of 30 classes of workmen compared ail but three are receiving more in the anthracite collieries than In the rest of the field It is agreed, in accordance with the sug- gestion of the Board of Trade, that the differ- ence in the percentage shall be got rid of, and that ji common scale of reductions and ad- vances slibuld be adopted on bases correspond- ing to the 1879 standard increased by 50 per cent, but so that the alteration of standard shall not in itself effect an immediate change in wage's. It becomes, therefore-, necessary to translate the wages on the 1879 standard with the existing percentage of 77} into equivalents under the agreement of 1915. But there have in the meantime been so many detail va- riations in successive price lists and joint com- mittee awards as would have involved an im- mense amount of labour. It has accordingly been agreed by both parties to adopt an elab- orate system of equivalents drawn up by Mr Finlay A. Gibson (Secretary of the Coalowners' Association) and setting forth for every pos- sible rate on the 1879 standard its correspond- ing figure in the Anthracite disirict even to two decimal places of a penny. This system of ta- bles I, therefore, assent to until experience shall have shown how it works. Referring to the miners' leaders the arbitra- tor adds. "They have loyally abided through- i out the agitation of this question by the en- gagements entered into with the owners; while, on the otter hand, they have patiently but firi-iilv exercist-d a moderating and res- training influence which greatly assisted in preserving the peace of their district, and this undar circumstances of exceptional and growing difficulty. Throughout the present enquiry they have presented their case fully and fairly with conspicuous ability,"

I CORRESPONDENCE. I I PEACE BY NEGOTIATION. I I (Te the Editor of the PIONEER.) I Sir,—May I call the attention of your read- ers to the Memorial t-m- the Prime Minister in favour of Negotiation? It seems to me that to obtain signatures for this Memorial is the best thing we can do at the present time, if we have in view the establishment of a lasting peace. The Memorial is eminently statesman- like. It does not ask for Peace at any price. It simpiy asks for negotiation in order that we may find out what terms could be obtained— i.e, whether the war could now be terminated on lines satisfactory to the Allies? It may be that this would result in securing such terms as those recently put forward in America (May 10) in the New York Tribune as being terms which Germany would accept, including the restoration of Belgium, France and Serbia; no indemnities; and no attempt to hold alien peo- ples in subjection. If such terms as these were possible, it would clearly be a monstrous crime to continue the war. On the other hand, it may be that we should find that Germany was not yet in a mood to make such conces- sions as these, and that something was still left of the aggressive designs of Prussian Militarism. If this was so, the negotiations could be broken off. Ml that we ask is that an attempt should bo made to find out how matters stand. It is hardly conceivable that the statesmen should not see the force of this demand. Yet we know that, as a matter of fact, there are many reason which make them hang back and hesit- ate, and drift, and let things take their course. "To let things take their course in war is to let war feed upon and perpetuate itself." So said the Duke of Argylle in the Orimean Wair. It is just here that the value of the Memorial comes in. It supplies the necessary spur to those who iwe inclined to drift, while at the same time it affords support and encourage- ment to those who are disposed to move. The Rev. Herbert Punnico. of 47 New Broad Street London, E.G., is Honorary Secretary of the Peace Negotiations Committee, and he will be pleased to answer all enquiries.—Yours, etc. CHARLES RODEN BUXTON. Reform Club. London May 17th. 1916. THE EFFORTS OF THE PEACE SOCIETY. (To the Editor of the PIO-IEEIZ.) Sir—The Peace Society have held some meet- ings in the Borough during the last few weeks with the object of inducing the Allies to open up negotiations for bringing the war to an end. Any well dirccted efforts by any body in this direction must commend itself to all. What measure of success is likely to attend these ef- forts. the Peace Society, I presume, are not pre- pared to anticipate. But it behoves, the So- ciety to see that there is at least a good basis for its efforts. If there is not. then they must foresee that these efforts are likely to be futile. There does not appear to me to be a basis of this kind, for the following re a- sons -If it is wise to move in the matter in this way now, it would have been wiser to move in the matter earlier before so much blood had been shed. And if it were wise to move in the matter at an earlier date, it would have been wiser skill to move in the mat- ter at a date still earlier, viz.. before the outbreak of hostilities, when no blood had been shed. This is exactly what occurred, for nego- tiations for preventing the outbreak of war were actually in progress when the war broke out, but they ended in failure—failure that is on the part of Germany, and not on the part of the Alius. When negotiations by the ordinary diplomatic methods failed to prevent a, catastrophe, Sir Edward Grey sent the following despatch to Berlin, Paris and Rome (Blue Book 36):—- "Would Minister of Foreign Affairs be disposed to instruct Ambassador here to join with re- presentatives of .France, Italy and Germany, and myself to meet here in Conference im- mediately for the purpose of discovering an issue which would prevent complications? You should ask Minister of Foreign Affairs whether he would do this. If so, when bringing the above suggestion to the notice of the Govern- ments to which they are accredited, represen- tatives at Belgrade. Vienna and St. Petersburg should be authorised to request that 'all active military preparations should be suspended pen- ding results of conference." A similar dispatch (Blue Book No. 53) was sent to Russia. France. Russia and Rome ac- cepted. Germany declined, saying that such a. conference as we proposed was not practicable. (Blue Book No. 43). And in Blue Book No. 160 our Ambassador at Berlin sent a dispatch to Sir Edward Grey as follows:— "Secretary of State spoke yesterday in the same sense as that reported in my telegram of yesterday to my French and Italian colleagues respecting your proposals. I discussed with mv two colleagues this morning his reply, and we found that, while refusing the proposed conference,, he said to all of us that nevertheless he desired to work with us for the maintenance of general peace. We therefore deduced that if he is sincere in this wish he can only be objecting to the form of your proposal. Perhaps he himself could be induced to suggest lines on which he would find it possible to work with us." SW- Edward Grey (Blue Book No. 84) replied as follows:—" I urge that the German Gov- ernment should suggest any method by which the. influence of the Four Powers could be used together to prevent war between Austria and Russia. France agreed; Italy agreed: The whole idea of mediation or mediating in- fluence was ready to be put into operation by any method that Germany could suggest if mine was not acceptable.. In fact, mediation was ready to come into operation by 0 any meth- od that Germany thought possible, if only Ger- many would press the buttoii in the interests of Peace." Our Ambassador at Berlin (Blue Book 85) reported an interview he had with the German Chancellor, who slloke as follows: -"Provid.ed that neutrality of Great Britain were certain, every assurance would be given to the British Government that the Imperial Government aimed at no territorial acquisitions at the ex- pense of France should they prove victorious in any war that might ensue. I questioned His Excellency about the French Colonies, and he explained that he was unable to give a sim- ilar undertaking in that respect." To this Sir Edward Grey replied (Blue Book No. 101) as follows:—"His Majesty's Govern- ment cannot for a moment entertain the Chancellor's proposal that they should bind themselve's to neutrality on such terms. What he asks us in eKeot is to engage to ?tand by while French Colonies are taken and o' France is beaten so long as Germany does not take French territory as distinct from the Colo- nies. From the material point of view such a proposal is unacceptable, for .France, without further territory in Europe "being taken from her, could be so crushed as to lose her posi- tion as a Great Power and become subordin- ate to German policy. Altogether apart from that it would be a. disgrace for us to make this bargain with Germany at the expense of Franco—a disgrace from which the good name f of this country would never recover. The j Chancellor also in effect asks us to bargain away Ii whatever obligation or interest we have as re- gards the neutrality of Belgium. We could not entertain that bargain either." Sir Edward Grey wrote Paris and Berlin July 31 (Blue Book No. 114) as follows:—" In view of prospect of mobilisation in Germany it becomes essential to His Majesty's Government in view of existing treaties, to ask whether French (German) Government are prepared to engage to respect neutrality of Belgium so long as no other Power violates it." Our Ambassador in Paris replied July 31 (Blue Book No. 125):—"French Government are resolved to respect the neutrality of Belgium and it would only be in the event of some other Power violating that neutrality that France might find herself under the necessity, in order to assure defence of her own security, to act otherwise. This assurance has been given seve- ral times." Our Ambassador at Berlin replied (Blue Book 160):—"In accordance with the instructions contained in your telegram of the 4th insfc. I called upon the Secretary of State that alter- noon. and inquired in the name of His Majes- ty's Government whether the Imperial Govern- ment would refrain from violating Belgium neu- trality. Herr Von Jagou at once replied that he was sorry, his answer must be (No,' as. in consequence of the German troops having caused the frontier that morning Belgium, neu- trality had been already violated." Germany refused to be a party to the confer- ence we proposed, and declined to offer any alternative of her own, although pressed to do so. Thus the negotiations came to an end. Germany violated Belgium neutrality, and dealt with her property, women and children in a way we are all too familiar with. That the Allies should be urged to take the initiative in re-opening negotiations with an enemy so surreptitious, wanton and brutal, as Germany has shown herself to be. seems to me to be the height of absurdity. It will be time enough for the Allies to negotiate after Germany has given clear indications of repentance, and of a readiness to make reparation for the deeds she has committed, upon which the civilised world is gazing with a shudder. Two..things, it ap- pears to me, are left for us --(1) To go on doaling with Germany as we are doing (peace- ful negotiation having come to nought); and (2) that the Allied nations and the Allied peoples individually, from the highest to the loAvest should so conduct themselves as to make he- coming and consistent on their part prayers for Divine Interposition to bring the war to an end. —Yours truly, A LOVER OF PEACE May 22. 1916. I NOT COWARDS. (io the Editor of the PIONEER.) I fc>ir,—1, as a reader, would like to comment upon a few words spoken by the Rev. G. Neigh- bour in his speoch at Abernant. the report of which appeared in the "Pioneer" of. May 13. He said that men who forsook their faith in time of trial were cowards. Does he mean that conscientious objectors who have submitted are cowards? If so I don't agree. In order- to make the stand that a conscientious ob- jector's faith demands him to make, he must have physical as well as moral strength. Know- ing the demand of defiance and suffering on their part. manv of them know how far this tax can be imposed' on their constitution, and they know their state of health could not a,l- low them to "stick it." Mr Neighbour has classcd these with the cowards. It does not fol- low that thev are such. I know of a. few ex- amples of conscientious objectors who have submitted owing to the reason I have just stated, and even now hate war and are as true to their anti-war ideas as ever they were. Then I think we. as paace agitators, should not shun this section of conscientious objectors. They may yet show us that their faith was im- perishable. though they were forced to submit. I say that we are not always aware, or rather, we are ignorant of the facts of the po- sition under which a few sincere conscientious objectors have given in in time of trial although they have not necessarily forsaken their faith, and become "cowards" according to the sweep- ing statement made by Mr Neighbour.—Yours, etc., i A CONQTANTR,EADFR,.