72 SMALL HOLDINGS 



nearer the natural economic standard. The 

 average size of holdings in this class is just 

 about 20 acres, and it is an interesting coin- 

 cidence that in Germany holdings of from 25 

 to 125 acres account for a far larger propor- 

 tion of the total area than any other class. 



Down to the end of 1911 — that is, during 

 four years after the passing of the 1907 Act — 

 land had been provided for 12,529 applicants 

 in England and Wales ; but this does not 

 mean that small holdings had increased by 

 that number. Many of the applicants already 

 had small holdings and merely added to 

 them ; others fell out. The actual increase in 

 the number of holdings under 50 acres 

 between 1908 and 1912 was 5,544. This is not 

 a great number out of a total of about 

 435,000 ; but it shows some movement. The 

 average size of the holdings acquired under 

 the Acts was between 13 and 14 acres, which 

 approximates towards the general average of 

 the 5-50 class. It appears, therefore, that 

 this size is more successful than the 1-5 

 holding. And the demand is brisk ; the 

 county councils administering the Acts have 

 been unable to keep pace with it. Nor is the 

 movement confined to them : down to the 

 end of 191 1 private landowners had provided 

 2,644 apphcants with land to the amount of 

 over 32,000 acres, but these represent only 

 the cases arranged " mainly through the 



