Land Problems and National Welfare 



a small farmer, and not to allow it to be swallowed 

 up by a large man. 



A striking feature to be noted among 

 Danish landowners is the combination that 

 exists in the family itself. I mean the way in 

 which the younger sons take farms from the 

 head of the family and invest their money in 

 the land. They do this because it pays them, 

 and such a course has the effect of greatly 

 strengthening the position of a landed family in 

 the neighbourhood. Instead of the family being 

 represented as in England by its head only, there 

 are a number of units thereof living quietly on 

 the land and in close touch with the labourers 

 and farmers of the district. The system works 

 for agricultural unity, and makes the farmer, 

 labourer, and landowner feel in practice that 

 community of interest which is lacking in Eng- 

 land. 



With us quite another system prevails : as a 

 rule the younger son takes his portion — takes 

 capital often provided by the land away from the 

 land — becomes a professional man, or a stock- 

 broker in the city. He does this very largely 

 because he believes that he could not make a 

 living if he invested his portion in the land. 



Why is this ? The land of England is as good 

 as that of Denmark, the climate is better and 

 prices are higher. Is not this mistaken course 

 due to the fact that the education of our boys 



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