THE AGRARIAN REFORM OF 1903. 159 



yearly of 35—40,000 inhabitants. The more that 

 the sub-division of farms (in its concealed^ as 

 well as in its open forms) is checked, the more 

 this emigration will be promoted. Now, if the 

 farmer wishes to give assistance to those of his 

 children who are emigrating, he must limit 

 himself in the application of capital to his farm. 

 The Irish peasant has never been accustomed to 

 put his savings into the land — he has preferred 

 the old stocking, or at best the bank. He has 

 often in fact borrowed money at 5 per cent, 

 from the bank when he had in it a deposit 

 yielding at most i per cent. The causes of this 

 attitude lay partly in the state of the agrarian 

 laws, partly also in a well-grounded mistrust in 

 his own capacity. In addition there was the 

 need of providing for the younger children. The 

 farmer will incur no new debts. He can, there- 

 fore, only do something for them by hoarding up 

 his money in the bank, and giving it out to 

 his children when they leave home. Thus he is 

 compelled to continue his low standard of living 

 — for his savings do not arise from a surplus of 

 profits but from a deficiency of nourishment — and 

 his want of capital becomes a chronic disease. 

 Afterwards, as before, the whole family lives on 

 the land, only that the departing children get 

 their share in cash. No legislation can deal with 



^ As, for instance, when two small families dwell in one 

 house, or a son builds on an addition to the house. 



