DESTRUCTION OF HOLDINGS 11 



their own, and their departure has contributed 

 appreciably to the rural depopulation. 



The reaction in arable farming was thus gradually 

 brought about. The introduction of labour-saving 

 machinery in agriculture enabled the farmer to dis- 

 miss hands for which he now would have to pay a 

 higher wage. In many places this labour question 

 has gone a step further, and when the fall in prices 

 came, and agricultural depression set in, the farmer 

 had no alternative but to lay down large tracts to 

 grass, and thus make himself even less dependent 

 on the man who is now in a position to refuse less 

 than a comparatively high living wage. 



During all this time such opportunities as still 

 existed for the small man to get hold of a piece of 

 land were eagerly sought after. Unfortunately, the 

 rage for farming on a large scale, encouraged by 

 the current plausible economic arguments about 

 production on these methods, led to the wholesale 

 destruction of the smaller holdings on large estates 

 by their absorption into huge farms. Even now, 

 when the tide is turning towards less extensive and 

 more intensive cultivation, want of capital for the 

 renewal or repair of the small holdings is leading to 

 the same result. 



There were at the same time various other causes 

 tending either to the destruction of small holdings, 

 or their removal as such from the reach of the bona 

 fide cultivator. Once in the market through death 

 or for any other reason, they are at the mercy of 

 the capitalist, whether as a landowner for the pur- 



