THE TENANT FARMS. 85 



Could the facts be definitely ascertained I have not 

 the least doubt that they would show that at least 

 fifty per cent, of the small farm ownerships in the 

 older States are merely nominal. That that number, 

 at least, of the small farmers in those States, are so 

 deeply in debt, so covered by mortgages, that their 

 supreme effort is to pay the constantly accruing inter- 

 est, that a roof may be kept over the heads of the 

 family an effort that can have but the one ending. 



In the newer States are found a similar condition 

 of things. The only difference is, that there the small 

 farmer is usually compelled to comnience with what, 

 to him, is a mountain of debt. He must obtain his 

 land upon deferred payments, drawing interest, and 

 can obtain no title until those deferred payments, 

 with the interest, are paid in full. He must also ob- 

 tain his farm implements on part credit, with interest, 

 for which he mortgages his crops. Credit must help 

 him to his farm stock, his hovel, his seed, his food, 

 his clothing. With this load of debt must the small 

 farmer in the newer States commence, if he is not a 

 capitalist, or he can not even make a beginning. With 

 such a commencement the common ending is not long 

 in being found. 



In traveling through those sections one of the most 

 notable things that meets the attention of the observer 

 is the great number of publications, everywhere met 

 with, devoted exclusively to the advertising of small 

 farm holdings, more or less improved, that are for 

 sale. One is almost forced to the conclusion that the 

 entire class of small farmers are compelled, from some 

 cause, to find the best and quickest market that can 



