CHAPTER VII 



SMALL HOLDINGS 



The extension of small holdings has for many 

 years been advocated as an effective means of 

 checking agricultural decline. It has lately 

 taken a foremost position among remedies, 

 and discussion tends to concentrate more and 

 more upon the methods of promoting it. A 

 desirable preliminary is a clear idea of what is 

 a small holding. The official definition is a 

 holding of from one to 50 acres ; but some- 

 thing nearer five acres than 50 is usually 

 implied by the term. It is commonly assumed 

 that such holdings were once very numerous, 

 but have recently diminished through changes 

 in the methods of agriculture or other in- 

 fluences. This belief probably rests on the 

 report of a Select Committee of the House 

 of Commons on the subject in i8go, " that 

 there had been until quite recently a con- 

 siderable diminution in small holdings, due 

 to economic causes and especially to the 

 policy of consolidating farms whch prevailed 

 largely until the last few years." The 

 Committee thought that this movement had 



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