74 SMALL HOLDINGS 



is the more formidable of the two. Several 

 wet seasons in close succession have brought 

 it to ruin at various periods in the past, and 

 the smaller men naturally give way first. 

 Those who make comparisons with other 

 countries generally forget this all-important 

 factor. Bad seasons occur in other countries, 

 but less often ; nowhere else is the weather 

 so irregular, uncertain, and capricious, so apt 

 to upset all calculations. The new small- 

 holdings movement has not yet had to face 

 either test. Farming in general has been look- 

 ing up with the rise in prices and the weather 

 has not been disastrous, though it came very 

 near to it last year. 



Even in favourable circumstances, how- 

 ever, it is necessary that the man and the 

 soil should be suited to cultivation on a small 

 scale and the situation such as to make 

 marketing sufficiently easy. These conditions 

 can be secured more or less effectively by 

 judicious selection, but it is doubtful if their 

 importance is sufficiently realised. Many 

 experiments in small holdings have failed 

 from ignorance or neglect of them. With 

 regard to the man, in addition to such 

 qualities as industry and thriftiness know- 

 ledge is essential. Small holdings are most 

 successful where that type of cultivation has 

 been longest established and is best under- 

 stood. But lack of experience can be made 



