16 NATURAL CONDITIONS 



such holdings has been brought about by the 

 direct intervention of legislation. But there are 

 two fundamental conditions inherent in the nature 

 of a place, unchangeable by the laws or doings of 

 man, which determine a relatively large return 

 on a small area ; these are climate and soil. 

 When we come to study the conditions which 

 have caused ancient holdings to survive, we in- 

 variably find that when their first successful 

 initiation was due to fertility of soil or suitability 

 of climate, these small holdings have persisted and 

 still flourish in spite of all other untoward circum- 

 stances. As instances of this type I would mention 

 the Channel Islands, the Isle of Axholme in the 

 north-west corner of Lincolnshire, and the fen 

 districts of the same county. Here not only is 

 the natural fertility of the soil very great, but the 

 land is specially suitable for growing such crops as 

 early potatoes and celery, for which larger cash 

 returns are obtained than for ordinary farm 

 produce. It is these same conditions of suitable 

 climate or soil which have caused newer holdings 

 to arise in those localities where it has been possible 

 to acquire land on ordinary commercial lines. An 

 instance of this is the district of Calstock, where 

 the soil is poor and markets are very distant ; but 

 the climate is propitious for early ripening. 



But we find small holdings, old and new, existing 

 also in districts where these qualifications of soil 

 and climate are absent, and where there are no 

 common rights ; there are then other factors con- 



