Land Problems and National Welfare 



single field— even when full compensation is 

 given — upsets all the farming operations far 

 more than the taking of loo or 200 acres 

 from a 1,000 acre farm. Of course, however, 

 the best method to pursue, when possible, is for 

 the Small Holdings Authorities to take farms 

 as they come into the market, and so cause no 

 disturbance at all. But quite apart from any 

 consideration of the requirements of the Small 

 Holdings Act, it would be far better for the 

 country if the 1,000 acre farms were divided 

 up into 300, 400, or 500 acre farms. 



There may be a few districts in England 

 where the 1,000 acre farm is the economic 

 holding, but generally speaking this large farm 

 was originally held in several separate farms. 



I have heard more than one hard-headed 

 Yorkshire farmer say that in his opinion no 

 farmer should hold more than 300 acres of 

 average good land. And I have heard many 

 of the older generation of farmers complain 

 that the number of the smaller farms has been 

 so much reduced that young men have not the 

 same opportunity that formerly existed for ac- 

 quiring suitably sized holdings upon which to 

 begin their careers ; and that, in consequence, 

 the ladder by which such men might rise 

 has now lost many rungs. There seems to be 

 a very general inclination amongst the average 

 run of farmers to take larger farms than they 



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