SMALL HOLDINGS OR LARGE FARMS? 133 



not ? Yet it is more important to the nation, 

 judging by the untilled fields that lie around us, 

 that large farmers, rather than small holders, 

 should undergo some acid test of examination. 



I am quite aware of the fact that in the 

 statistics presented to us by the Board of Agri- 

 culture in 191 5, there were more small holdings 

 in England than large holdings. That is to 

 say, the figures showed that out of the total 

 number of agricultural holdings, 66 "33 per cent, 

 were held in holdings not exceeding 50 acres 

 in extent, whilst 33*67 per cent, were held in 

 holdings of above 50 acres in extent. But the 

 small holdings in total acreage only amounted 

 to 14-68 per cent, of the whole cultivated area 

 of England, whilst the larger holdings took up 

 85*32 per cent, of the whole cultivated area. 



These figures relating to small holdings, 

 whilst useful, are misleading. They do not 

 enlighten us in the least as to the number of 

 holdings held purely as accommodation ground, 

 or of the number which provide an entire living 

 to the occupiers. In 19 14 only 1 101 were 

 described as agricultural labourers, which was 

 32 per cent, of the total number, and of the 

 3415 persons and seven associations who 

 applied, only 61 applicants expressed the desire 

 for the magic of property, or, in other words, to 

 own their holdings. 



The advocates of small ownership are not very 

 happy in their illustrations. Their favourite 



