1 86 Large and Small Holdings 



Still, too much importance must not be attributed to this point. 

 It is much less essential than the question of building expenses. It 

 is the latter which puts small holdings of all kinds at a real disad- 

 vantage as compared with large holdings, and is the main factor in 

 hindering their revival. It is the saving in cost of building and 

 repairs which is the peculiar advantage of the large holding, inde- 

 pendent of any question as to the branch of agriculture pursued. 

 Here is the explanation of the fact that though where the small 

 holding has survived it flourishes under modern conditions, the 

 extension of the system is often not economically profitable. The 

 essential question in determining whether or not such an extension 

 will pay is whether the advantage possessed by the small holding in 

 regard of certain branches of agriculture is greater than the disad- 

 vantage at which it stands in regard of the cost of building. If it is 

 greater, the formation of small holdings proceeds apace. And the 

 statistics as to the increase of small and medium holdings and the 

 decrease of the largest farms prove that in the majority of cases the 

 advantage is on the side of the small holdings. In proportion as the 

 profitableness of those branches of agriculture which are suited to it 

 increases, the question of cost of buildings and repairs becomes of less 

 importance. And in proportion as those branches of agriculture in 

 which large farming has the advantage, as corn-growing in particular, 

 become less profitable, so does this general advantage lose in practical 

 significance. 



But in view of all the circumstances which go to hinder the 

 development of the small farm system, the question whether the 

 various units of holding can in any degree overcome their character- 

 istic weaknesses becomes one of great interest. It remains to enquire 

 whether the large holding can overcome the disadvantage at which it 

 stands in regard of stock-farming and market-gardening, and whether 

 the small holding can get rid of its disabilities in the realm of corn- 

 growing and more particularly in regard of the other branches of 

 agriculture. These questions will be treated below. But it is already 

 evident that if the large farm can in any way overcome its disadvan- 

 tage in what are today the most profitable agricultural pursuits, it will 

 be the victor in the struggle between the various units of holding. 

 Otherwise, if the small holding can overcome its characteristic agri- 

 cultural weaknesses, it will have the decided superiority over the 

 large farm in spite of the difficulty created by the cost of buildings. 



