STATISTICAL SURVEY OF IRISH AGRICULTURE. 



315 



According to the returns for 1901, the number of separate holdings was 



590,175, being 3,458 more than in the previous year. 



Namber of Holdings The holdings which decreased in number were those 



and " above 5 and not exceeding 15 acres " by 333 ; those 



Number of Occupiers, "above 50 and not exceeding 100 acres" by 169; 



those " above 200 and not exceeding 500 acres " by 



33 ; and those "above 500 acres by 11." The holdings which increased in 



number were those " not exceeding i acre " by 2480 ; those " above 



I acre and not exceeding 5 acres" by 701; those "above 15 and not 



exceeding 30 acres " by 561 ; those " above 30 and not exceeding 50 



acres" by 206; and those "above 100 and not exceeding 200 acres" 



by 56. 



As in many instances landholders occupy more than one farm, and as in 

 other cases farms extend into two or more townlands — the portion in each 

 townland being enumerated and classified as a separate holding — it has been 

 considered desirable, with the view of ascertaining the number of Occupiers, 

 and of classifying them according to the total extent of land held by each, 

 to obtain a return of the number of persons having more than one farm or 

 holding. Each Enumerator is, therefore, required to furnish the name of 

 every landholder residing in his district who has two or more farms, or 

 whose farm extends into two or more townlands, together with the area of 

 each portion and the locality in which it is situated. From the number of 

 actual occupiers thus arrived at, it appears that in 1901 there were 590,175. 

 holdings in the hands of 543,238 occupiers. 



