42 



FARMING ON FACTORY LINES 



little has appeared in the British Press, as 

 to the possibility of increasing the food supplies of 

 these countries by a rapid development of Irish 

 Agriculture. Yet the potentiality of Ireland in the 

 direction indicated, was, and is, still greater than in 

 any part of the United Kingdom. 



In the first place 85% of the farms in Ireland are 

 not more than 50 statute acres in extent. That is, 

 Ireland is essentially a country of small holdings. 

 Whilst the relative returns which might be obtained 

 from large and small farms is a matter of con- 

 troversy, the fact remains that, so far at least, the 

 gross revenue per acre of land is greatest in all 

 European countries where small holdings prevail. 

 It is particularly true in regard to Ireland, as shown 

 by the following table: — 



STATISTICS OF IRISH SMALL HOLDINGS AND FARMS 



It may be contended that the " other cattle," 

 chiefly young stores, on the smaller farms, are 

 younger and less valuable than those on the larger 

 farms, but against that there is this fact. The 

 nightmare of history through which Ireland has 

 passed has resulted inevitably in the smaller and 

 far more industrious farmer being segregated on the 

 poorer land. The rich land is held by the rich farmer 

 and grazier. The smaller the farm, the greater the 



