Fortunes for Farmers 



beginning now in certain areas of Lincolnshire, 

 and will no doubt go on faster in the future. 



It cannot be denied that a state of affairs in a 

 country where labourers can become small holders, 

 and small holders increase to farmers; where, in 

 fact, every one can rise, is for the national welfare. 

 It brings ability everywhere to the top — as in 

 America to-day — or as in the armies of the great 

 Napoleon. 



It was the abolition of primogeniture under the 

 Code Napoleon that split up France and Belgium 

 and kept them divided. The law is now that sub- 

 ject to a man's right to make a provision for his 

 widow the greater part of his property, both real 

 and personal, must, notwithstanding any testa- 

 mentary disposition to the contrary, pass on his 

 death to his children in equal shares. A man cannot 

 leave his estate to his eldest child — all must be 

 equal, and any considerable gift to any one child 

 made in lifetime is taken into account. 



It is not to be wondered at, then, that France 

 and Belgium are the countries of the small holder, 

 as opposed to England, the country of the great 

 owner. If we turn to Australia and New Zealand, 

 we find men of our own blood engaged in passing 

 laws to the same end. Not content with leaving 

 the matter until death, they prevent a man, under 

 certain circumstances, from owning more than a 



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