236 RURAL DENMARK 



issue alluded to above, to which I understand the 

 Unionist party is also pledged, that of the provision 

 of funds by the aid of which the tenant farmer, large 

 or small, is to be helped to buy his farm by mutual 

 agreement with its owner. This excellent project 

 (I wonder if I shall live long enough to see it become 

 anything more) will involve the rinding of tens or 

 scores of millions of pounds, and is one altogether 

 too large to be discussed in these pages at the length 

 which it deserves. Still we may be permitted to 

 wonder whence the money is to come? 



Mr. Jesse Collings, with whom I have recently 

 had some most interesting correspondence on this and 

 kindred subjects, offers his own solution of the problem 

 in his u Purchase of Land Bill" of 1910. Under the 

 provisions of this Bill the landlord and the tenant of 

 any holding in England or Wales may agree together 

 for the sale of the holding to the tenant " at such 

 price as may be fixed between them," and thereafter 

 apply to the Board of Agriculture to advance a 

 sum not exceeding 7000, or in special circumstances 

 ^"9000, to enable the purchase to be completed. 

 This advance is to be repaid by means of a purchase 

 annuity calculated at the rate of t )j 5s. per cent. 



In the same way where smaller holdings are con- 

 cerned the Board of Agriculture, if satisfied with the 

 security, may advance to the purchasers " any portion 

 not exceeding nine-tenths, or if they think fit up to 

 the whole of the purchase price." For the pur- 

 poses of the larger properties a sum not exceeding 

 ;i 0,000,000 is to be advanced by the Treasury out 

 of the Consolidated Fund, and for those of the smaller 

 holdings a sum not exceeding ,2,000,000. 



Here I may remark that if any such purchase 



