( 71 ) 



of consolidation much more rapidly, and would per- 

 haps have attained even greater results, as regards 

 increase of produce, in a much shorter period of time. 

 But I have been content to allow natural causes 

 to operate, and to let time and experience prove the 

 unavoidable conditions of insolvency which attach 

 to the improvident subdivisions of land. Setting 

 aside the case of allotments for men living mainly on 

 the wages of labour or on handicrafts — which belong 

 to a wholly different category — I am opposed to the 

 system of very small crofts, as I am equally opposed 

 to the system of farms enormously large. My aim 



has been to consolidate the small crofts gradually, Gradual consolida- 

 ,1 • 1 1 ii 1-1 , tiou of small crofts, 



as the vacancies by death and insolvency arose, not 



into farms of great size, but into farms of a variety 



of sizes. And the general result of my operations is 



at least as near an approximation towards this end as 



has been compatible with my desire to avoid har^ or 



hasty proceedings of any kind. 



The proper size of farms is essentially a local Proper size of 

 ,. T T 1 ,1 T,. f. farms a local ques-» 



question, dependiDg very much on the conditions or ^^^^^ 

 physical geography. A very large part of the High- 

 lands consists of high mountains, many of them 

 having no arable land at all even upon their flanks. 

 The only agricultural value of these is as grazings for 

 sheep. The capital required for adequately stocking 

 them is always comparatively large. Flocks of two 

 and three thousand sheep represent large sums of 

 money. This capital is entirely beyond the reach of 

 men who have never held anything but crofts or small 

 farms. I have no belief in the success of the co- 

 operative management of such grazings. Common Common grazuigs 



,1 ^ • . r 4. 1 IT unsuitable. 



grazings are the subject oi perpetual quarrelling, even 



