SMALL AND LARGE HOLDINGS 



131 



give the same degree of individual care per acre on a 

 I coo-acre farm as can be given on a 30- to 50-acre 

 holding. 



And again, among the men working on large farms 

 there are, and ahvavs will be, a certain number whose 

 ambition it is to have individual holdings of their own ; 

 this is a healthy ambition which should be satisfied. 

 The importance of the smallholder in stabilizing the 

 social condition must not be lost sight of; and as 

 soon as circumstances permit the development of 

 small holdings should be taken in hand again. 

 Meanwhile, those desirous of a small holding, and not 

 averse to migration, should be given the opportunity of 

 settling in our lands oversea on the best possible terms 

 and under carefully organized conditions. 



To sum up from the figures I have given in this 

 chapter, it is clear that even under the present unfavour- 

 able conditions the average production per acre from 

 the small holding is higher than the general average for 

 the country, and the same holds good in regard to profit. 



The following table is interesting as showing the 

 results of a well-run colony — which is indeed a settle- 

 ment — in regard to the head of population and Hve stock 

 carried, marking the increase in favour of small holdings. 



Cheshire County Council, 1916. 



/•'imr Colonies aggregating 3070 acres. 



