2 Large and Small Holdings 



the other hand it began to be evident that small and medium holdings 

 were on the increase. Soon the dogma of the infallibility of the 

 system of the large farm ceased to be altogether convincing. The 

 whole economic theory of the unit of management, which had 

 culminated in the glorification of the large farm, was upset. The 

 astonishing change of tendency began to be investigated, and in 

 many cases small farming, in view of the new conditions, was praised 

 as vehemently as large farming had been before. Meantime those 

 who had always regarded the matter as one of social policy saw that 

 their day had come. Now that they could base their argument on 

 the increasing capacity for economic survival shown by the small 

 farm, they were able to obtain a hearing when they pointed out its 

 socio-political superiority. 



Thus new life was given to the somewhat arid discussion as to the 

 proper size of the agricultural holding. Into this discussion, however, 

 the present enquiry does not profess to enter. For what has been 

 shown by the discussion, not only in England but also elsewhere, is 

 the necessity for a historical study of the question. Just as formerly 

 the case for the large farm was one-sidedly maintained because 

 men allowed themselves to be dazzled by the facts that were before 

 their eyes, so now the small holding is often championed with equal 

 one-sidedness, because deductions are drawn as to general laws from 

 impressions given by present conditions. 



The changes, and the causes of the changes, in English systems of 

 land management can only be understood if the history of agriculture 

 is studied, so as to show how modern conditions have come into 

 existence. The first step in this direction is to describe the conditions 

 which brought about the development and preponderance of the large 

 holding in England. Although, as has been seen, the system of the 

 large farm has ceased to extend its boundaries, it is still predominant 

 in English agriculture : England is still a country of large farms. Of 

 the total acreage under cultivation, 42 per cent, is in holdings of 100 

 to 300 acres, 30 per cent, is in holdings of 300 to over 1000 acres, and 

 only 28 per cent, in holdings of i to 100 acres. Our problem is to 

 explain this preponderance of large and medium holdings. The key 

 to the problem will be found in the agricultural history of the 

 eighteenth century. 



