DISTKIBUTION OF LAND 



157 



is far smaller. Thus 4,217 persons own half the land of 

 England and Wales ; and an amount exceeding the culti- 

 vated area of the country, or over 28 million acres, is the 

 property of 38,000 persons. 



English land laws, prior to 1882, combined with social 

 and economic causes to lessen the number and increase 

 the size of landed properties. At the same time small 

 farms decreased in number, as they were consolidated 

 and thrown together to economise management and uti- 

 lise machinery. The census for 1881 gives the number 

 of tenant farmers at 223,943. But a fuller answer to the 

 question — ' How is the land occupied ? ' will be supplied by 

 the following table. Though the average size of holdings 

 in England and Wales is only 53 acres, yet 19 millions 

 out of the 27 million cultivated acres, or rather more than 



on each Class of Agricultural Holding in England and Wales in 1885. 



cultural Returns of 1886. 



included in the field allotments (see Appendix XIV.). 



two-thirds, are occupied in holdings ranging from 100 

 acres to upwards of 1,000 acres. The land thus owned 



