ACTION OF LANDOWNERS 73 



instrumentality of the councils." The official 

 report sa3^s that " the actual number so pro- 

 vided is probably considerably in excess of 

 these figures." Of the whole number of 

 applicants provided nearly 35 per cent, were 

 described as agricultural labourers. The 

 counties which have made most use of the 

 Acts are Norfolk, Cambridge, Isle of Ely, 

 Lincolnshire, Worcester, Somerset, and 

 Huntingdon. The chief reasons for their 

 prominence seem to be the lead given by 

 energetic individuals who believe in the prin- 

 ciple and the previous prevalence of small 

 holdings in the same district. 



Conditions of Success. 



All this indicates an active movement with 

 great scope for extension. It is too soon to 

 tell with any certainty what prospects it has 

 of lasting success, but the report for 1912 

 ought to throw some light upon it, because 

 that was a wet year following a dry one. 

 During 191 1, which was a very dry and hot 

 season, 99 tenants gave up and 20 had notice 

 to quit. The proportion is very small, and 

 must be considered satisfactory in view of the 

 drought. But the real test comes with a wet 

 season. The two great enemies with which 

 British agriculture has had to contend have 

 always been bad seasons, which are more often 

 wet than dry, and low prices ; and the former 



