70 SMALL HOLDINGS 



nearer to what may be called the economic 

 standard farm in different parts of the 

 country. Such a definition would be a 

 valuable guide both to legislation and to 

 voluntary efforts. The more nearly they con- 

 form to the standing economic conditions the 

 more likely they are to succeed. 



With regard to the classes below the pre- 

 dominant one in size, the 5-50 class, which is 

 technically included under " small holdings," 

 is numerically by far the largest of all, though 

 it occupies a much smaller acreage than the 

 former — namely, 14.7 per cent, of the whole 

 area, against 59.3 per cent. It evidently suits 

 a very large number of farmers, and it has 

 also quite recently been increasing. Between 

 1910 and 1912 the number of holdings rose 

 from 198,139 to 200,522 in England and 

 Wales. These facts are encouraging ; but 

 what distinguishes this class from the other 

 is the fluctuation in its numbers. While the 

 50-300 class has steadily increased in nearly 

 every division, the 5-50 class has moved up 

 and down, as though it had been taken up 

 and then dropped again. That is also the case 

 with the 1-5 acre class. If the periods of rise 

 and fall are examined the conclusion is 

 suggested that the rises are due to legislation 

 and discussion which have stimulated the 

 establishment of holdings of this size both 

 by local authorities and private enterprise, 



