IO 



so far from being benefited, will only suffer from them. 

 . . . Farms up to 12 hectares* have no corn to sell at all, 

 but have in most cases to buy corn themselves. In the 

 best of cases farms above six hectares will, if the soil is 

 favourable, be in a position to meet the demand of the 

 owner and his family for corn. The number of farms 

 below 12 hectares amounts to some four millions, that is, 

 76 per cent, of all farms. Taking three and half persons 

 per farm, we find that a population of something like 

 15 millions will derive no benefit from an increase of 

 corn duties — nay, they will, with few exceptions, directly 

 suffer through an increased cost of their living." 



This was the opinion of an Imperial Chancellor, him- 

 self one of the largest landowners in Germany, and there 

 can be no doubt that it was rather optimistic than other- 

 wise. It is generally believed t that only farmers hold- 

 ing more than 100 hectares can and do grow corn for sale, 

 which for milling or export purposes must be of uniform 

 quality and offered in large quantities ; farmers holding 

 between 20 and 100 hectares do not grow it regularly, 

 and those holding less than 20 hectares may be said not 

 to grow it at all or grow it only for their own consump- 

 tion. The distribution of landed property in Germany 

 was, however, according to the last census of 1907, as 

 follows (in hectares) : 



The first two classes of farmers who certainly do not 

 grow any corn at all, but have to buy it for their con- 

 sumption, form over 77 per cent, of the total number of 

 landed proprietors. They are directly damaged by the 



* The hectare is equal to 2.47 acres, 

 t Janssen, I.e., pp. 67-68. 



