OTHER SCHEMES OF LAND REFORM 275 



and a less profit returned by the land. . . That large 

 farms make a less proportional return than small ones 

 has been the opinion of all writers on the subject. . , . 

 That the real strength of every country depends on 

 the population is a well-known truth, and a little ac- 

 quaintance with the principles of a sound policy will 

 show that the only solid basis of a numerous popula- 

 tion is aofriculture, . . . The resources of the earth 

 and the strength of the population can alone be looked 

 upon as the foundation of a sure and positive power, 

 and as the means by which a nation is enabled to 

 suffice for itself." 



The writer goes on to utter warnings of the danger 

 of "depopulating the country and annihilating by 

 degrees that essentially necessary class of men who 

 cultivate the earth." ^ 



For some time past there has been a great desire 

 to revert to the policy of smaller farms, but landowners 

 as a class have not the money to spare to restore the 

 old homesteads, to build new, and to incur other ex- 

 penses necessary for an alteration in the system. 

 Hence the proposals that aid should be given by the 

 State. It is not necessary perhaps to discuss these 

 proposals at any length, for the reason that it is not 

 likely that any Government will adopt them. Any 

 measure to carry them out would be regarded as one 

 for the benefit of a class, and would be generally 

 opposed. If State money is to be advanced for the 

 creation of smaller farms and holdings, it should go 

 directly to the cultivating owner, and through him to 

 the improvement of the land. To advance money to 

 landlords at a low rate of interest, without any check 



' "Practical Husbandry," by John Mills, F.R.S., Member of the Agri- 

 cultural Societies of Paris and Berne, 1767, Vol. V, p. 7. 



