54 PROPOSED TENANCY REFORMS 



or another. It will be necessary, therefore, in several cases 

 to distinguish holdings according to their size ; and I find 

 that holdings naturally .fall into three classes, which play a 

 different part in rural economy. The largest class is that of 

 medium-sized holdings varying usually from 5 up to 50 acres 

 in area, though in some districts the upper limit would be 

 more like 100 acres. These are the holdings on which a culti- 

 vator normally supports himself entirely by agriculture, or 

 at any rate in which it is the principal occupation of himself 

 and his family. On the larger holdings one or two laborers 

 will be employed and at times more. The traditional methods 

 of cultivation and old-fashioned implements are employed. 



The other two classes consist of holdings which on the 

 one hand are larger and on the other hand are smaller than 

 this big class of the ordinary cultivators' holdings. The 

 larger holdings are generally those which would exceed from 

 50 to 100 acres in different districts and would each be culti- 

 vated as a single farm by a man with some knowledge of 

 modern methods of farming and possessing some capital 

 which would be invested in modern implements and in 

 improved live stock. On the other hand, the smallest hold- 

 ings varying from half an acre (less than a bight* ) upwards 

 are generally cultivated by artisans, laborers or other persons 

 having some other occupation as their principal source of 

 income. This class of tenant is not dependent for his liveli- 

 hood upon the produce of his cultivation ; yet it is very 

 useful to him to have the opportunity of growing either some 

 commercial crop, or grain or garden produce for his own 

 consumption. He is put in a somewhat more independent 

 position by having the possibility of making something from 

 cultivation ; and the health of his family is promoted when 

 he can raise his own fruit and vegetables. In England 

 these small plots of land leased to persons for cultivation in 

 their spare time are called " allotments ". 



