80 



Small 



Holdings 



and 



Allotments. 



than for larger holdings of the same quality. The expense 

 entailed in making roads, putting up buildings, fences, &c., 

 hinders any increase in the number. 



Dr. Shirra Gribb considers that there is no demand for hold- 

 ings under 100 to 150 acres, except in limited areas near some 

 of the larger villages, and none at all for allotments. 



ELGIN. Mr. Muirhead states that no difficulty is experienced 

 in obtaining land for the purposes named. 



FIFE. There is always a demand for small farms from about 

 50 to 100 acres, especially near populous centres. These are let 

 at higher rents than larger farms. There is no demand for 

 small holdings or allotments. If there were, there might be 

 some difficulty in obtaining them, but it is not considered that 

 this has contributed to the decline in population. Mr. Millar 

 remarks that a small holding entails constant hard work, as the 

 occupier cannot afford to buy improved machinery. 



FORFAR. Mr. Kydd writes : u I do not consider there would 

 be any difficulty in obtaining land for small holdings, provided 

 that the buildings obstacle could be got over, and I do not see 

 that this can be arranged without State assistance. In one 

 parish in my district, Carmyllie, there are a very large number 

 of small holdings, but the land is poor and the climate late and 

 cold. I am perfectly convinced that small holdings would 

 be an immense boon 1o the district and to the whole country, 

 provided these were given on good land and the difficulty men- 

 tioned were overcome. They would give an incentive to the 

 best class of farm servants to be persevering in their work and 

 saving in their wages, and the young persons reared on such 

 holdings would give farmers occupying large farms a better 

 class of farm 'servants. Of allotments I think nothing, as 

 these can only be occupied by tenants doing work for outside 

 employers part of their time, which is not obtainable in this 

 district." Mr. Duncan states that difficulty is experienced in 

 obtaining land for small holdings, but there *is not now the 

 same demand on account of the low price of produce. 



HADDINGTON. Mr. Shields states that no difficulty has been 

 experienced in obtaining land when urgently required, say, for 

 market garden purposes near towns. Mr. Hope writes : " There 

 are practically no small holdings or allotments in this county, 

 and never have been ; no doubt if there were it would be 

 beneficial, and would encourage men to keep on at farm work 

 in the hope of eventually getting a small holding for them- 

 selves." 



KINCARDINE. On the whole there appears to be little or no 

 difficulty in getting land for the purposes named, but there 

 is great difficulty in getting the necessary buildings provided. 

 Mr. Brown writes : " There is no doubt that if there were more 

 small holdings, allotments, or small farms there would be a 

 tendency for labourers to remain on the land," 



