8 ENGLAND AND FRANCE COMPARED 



. 



in the number of moderate sized properties, that is, of those 

 holding from 100 to 500 acres, which are relatively to the 

 population very much on an equality in the two countries, 1 

 as in the number of those whose holdings are under 100 

 and above 500 acres. 



Thus, whereas in England only some 10,000 own above 

 500 acres, in France there are some 50,000 ; and whereas in 

 England there are only some 920,000 who own less than 

 100 acres, in France the number approaches 5,500,000; 

 and that whereas in France one-half of the population is 

 engaged in agriculture, in England the proportion is barely 

 one-fifth ; while in Belgium it is computed that in 1871 

 there were as many as 1,000,000 landed proprietors out of 

 a population of 7,000,000. 



It is the aim of these lectures to attempt to explain how 

 and when this remarkable divergence occurred. 



It is often asserted that the disappearance of the small 

 landowner in England is primarily due to our land laws ; 

 that is to say to the law of primogeniture and the law of 

 entails. In my opinion their influence has been enormously 

 exaggerated. By the first, it is true that all lands of those 

 who die intestate pass to the male issue before the female, 

 and that, when there are two or more males in equal 

 degree, the eldest son inherits to the exclusion of his 

 brothers. It should, however, be noted that the law does not 

 apply to females, who, if they succeed at all, share equally 

 with their sisters. 



1 Cf. Prothero : Leonce Lavergne, JpeOTOmie Rurale de la France et 

 d' Angle ter re. 



Approximate Numbers. 



Acreage. France. England. 



Above 500 . . . 50,000 . . 10,000 



100 to 500 . . . 50,000 . . 32,000 



Less than 100 . . 5,500,000 . . 920,000 



Total 5,600,000 962,000 



