Economics of the Size of Farms 167 



small as compared with the importance of an abundant application of 

 capital. Machinery, which in regard of other vegetables is practically 

 useless, comes into play again here, especially in potato-harvest. 

 The potato-digger, with three horses, can work three or four acres 

 a day where the field is large enough, and the necessary assistants are 

 at hand to gather the potatoes, and " on most large holdings the 

 potato-digger is therefore called into use," says The Book of the 

 Farm 1 . On a small holding not more than two to two and a half 

 acres can be dug in a day, according to the same authority. Other 

 machines too, effecting an enormous saving of labour, are only 

 applicable on large holdings. On one such in Hertfordshire 2 , with 

 100 acres under potatoes, the present writer saw in use a potato- 

 setting machine which did in one day, with one man, work that would 

 otherwise have taken three men four days, and did it much more 

 regularly. The same farmer had also a potato-sifter which sifted ten 

 tons a day, employing four men, whereas the old sieve, attended by 

 two men, disposed of one ton a day only. 



In potato-growing, therefore, the quantitative intensity of the labour 

 of the small holder and his family can hardly compensate for the 

 absence of machinery : the qualitative intensity of such labour is not 

 needed for the mechanical processes to be performed. Potatoes also 

 require a great amount of chemical and natural manure, which the 

 large farmer is in a better position to obtain than the small. Spade- 

 work, which compensates for this disadvantage in the case of other 

 vegetables, is not so profitable in potato-culture, owing to the rela- 

 tively low value of the product. The allotment holder, growing for 

 his own use or to sell in very small quantities, may make use of 

 spade-labour. But the holder of 3, 4 or 5 acres, desirous of making 

 potatoes his chief crop, will hardly find spade-work pay. If he 

 has to use the plough, the difficulty of finding other employment for 

 his horses arises. Potatoes are not marketed in small quantities, but 

 are harvested all at one time and sold wholesale. Unless the small 

 holder grows other vegetables, or fruit, in addition to his potatoes, he 

 will hardly be able to make full use of his beasts. His case is the 

 same as that of the small corn-grower. 



When market-gardening is said to offer special advantages to the 

 small holder, therefore, potato-growing, unless in combination with 

 other crops, must be excepted. Where potato-growing by itself, and 



1 Stephens, op. cit. Vol. in, p. 118. 



3 Mr Muir's farm, Burslon Manor, Park Street, Herts. 



