Small Holdings 



possible, and here already it is being done. But 

 why can the small holder do the best? Why does 

 one acre produce proportionately more than ten, 

 or ten more than a hundred? Why cannot the 

 wealthy farmer give the same attention as his 

 small neighbour? He can afford more labour, 

 more outlay in manure and machinery, and 

 economize enormously in every direction. Why 

 does he not swallow up these small fish, as the busi- 

 ness men and manufacturers are doing? Why, in 

 short, are small holdings possible? 



Because the attention that is necessary is that 

 of a proprietor, the thoughtful care of the owner. 

 No hireling can do this, no machine replace it, 

 no organization copy it. On the best soil few men 

 can farm more than two hundred acres really 

 well. The most successful holders are those of 

 forty to eighty acres. When a man has much land 

 he puts a foreman in each place, but the foreman 

 who could farm as well as a small holder would 

 cease to be a foreman, and farm for himself. 

 There are exceptions, but the best managed farm 

 known to the author is one of 70 acres. 



The great handicap on the small holder is want 

 of capital. He can obtain reasonable credit for 

 one year, but if the season is bad he is in an un- 

 comfortable position, and if there should be two 

 bad seasons together, he feels the pinch more 



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