SMALL HOLDINGS 117 



ance, since it affords an opportunity of rewarding 

 soldiers for good service, by settling on the land 

 those with a liking and aptitude for rural life. It 

 will also be a factor of the greatest importance in 

 the afforestation schemes. The consideration of the 

 small-holding question is only here regarded from 

 the latter aspect, and with reference to the lands 

 utilizable for afforestation. If the farmer in these 

 districts is unable to provide sufficient whole-time 

 labour to maintain the rural population on the land, 

 the small holding, with its smaller area, cannot pro- 

 vide sufficient work throughout the year to employ 

 the holder or enable him to live and support a family 

 in decent conditions. The average small holding, 

 where two to three cows are kept, will include 

 sufficient arable land to provide the small holder 

 with crops for his family and stock. The cultivation 

 of this area can be done by devoting a few whole 

 days to it in the spring and autumn, and afternoons 

 at other periods during the year. Such holdings, 

 certainly in the tracts of country which the afforesta- 

 tion schemes are likely to be developed in, cannot 

 be made to support the occupant in the absence of 

 any subsidiary permanent occupation. Organized 

 forestry occupation will provide the holder with the 

 means of living a life of comfort, and give him the 

 little extra in wages which is now accepted as the 

 minimum the labourer has a right to demand. 



The term " forest village," which is merely a 

 collection of small holders settled as a community, 

 is well understood in some countries, the village being 

 a settlement within, or adjacent to, the boundaries 



