ENGLAND AND FRANCE COMPARED. 

 INFLUENCE OF LAND LAWS 



THE peculiar character of our rural economy lies, as 

 every one knows, in the accumulation of our land in a few 

 hands, and the comparatively small number of our popula- 

 tion who own any land at all. The grossly exaggerated 

 statements which used to be made, that the number o 

 those holding land did not exceed 30,000 has been indeed 

 disproved by later inquiries. These have shown that there 

 are at least 260,000 who hold land from one acre upwards, 

 as well as some 700,000, mostly householders, who hold 

 low one acre in England, exclusive of the Metropolis. 1 

 Nevertheless when compared with other countries, notably 

 with France, these numbers are few indeed. This will at once 

 become apparent if we remember that, with a population 

 only one-third larger, France has some 5,600,000 landed 

 proprietors. Here, however, it should be noted that the 

 difference between France and England does not lie so much 



1 The actual numbers, as compiled by the New Domesday Book, 

 are : 



1 acre 703,289 exclusive of the Metropolis. 



1 and 10 121,983 



10 and 100 98,479 



100 and 1,000 37,016 



Between 1,000 and 5,000 4,534 



Between 5,000 and 50,000 870 



Over 50,000 4 



The exact accuracy of these figures has, however, been disputed, cf. 

 Prothero, Pioneers of English Farming, p. 155; Caird, Landed 

 Interest, pp. 44, 57 ; Times, Feb. 7, April 7, 1876 ; Spectator, Feb. 12, 

 Feb. 19, March 4, 1876 ; cf. Board of Agriculture, Agricultural Returns, 

 1895, C. 8243, Tables XI -XVIII, 1896. p. xiv. C. 8502. 



