OBJECTIONS. 107 



It is undesirable, because after all, it is to the 

 lioldera of larger farms to wbom we must look 

 (and to whom in the past we have looked) for 

 those big outlays of capital in the produc- 

 tion of the best horses, cattle, sheep, and pigs, 

 and in the adoption of the most improved imple- 

 ments and appliances for the most economic culti- 

 vation of those lands unsuitable for small hold- 

 ings. Such farmers are standing examples to all 

 the smaller men around them, and their influence, 

 both on farming and other grounds, is, and should 

 be, of a most beneficent character. 



We wish, however, it to be clearly understood 

 that we are a thorough believer in the small 

 holdings system, and that we should like to see 

 a considerable increase of small holdings in every 

 county in England where the circumstances of 

 the laud, both as to its character and proximity 

 to markets, &c., are suitable. 



It should be consoling for tariff reformers to 

 reflect that if we had a huge increase in small 

 holdings, the cultivators of them here, as abroad, 

 Vv'ould take precious good care that they had 

 tariff reform, because to them tariff reform would 

 be of special utility. 



Co-operation. 



How far co-operation can improve the position 

 of the agi'iculturist is a question that does not 

 admit, so far as it concerns English and Scotch 

 farmers, of that easy answer v/hich is sometimes 

 given to it. 



