THE FARMER'S MEANS OF ACQUIRING LAND 231 



the following table in which the one state of Illinois is considered, 

 Illinois being the one of the northern states in which the per- 

 centage of tenancy is the highest : 



TABLE XVI 



THE PERCENTAGE OF OWNED FARM HOMES WHICH WERE KNOWN TO BE 

 ENCUMBERED, AND THE PERCENTAGE OF ALL FARM HOMES WHICH 

 WERE KNOWN TO BE HIRED, IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, FOR THE 

 YEAR 1900 



When we consider the mortgage in all of its relations it is 

 apparent that this is one of the important means of acquiring 

 landownership ; and while it sometimes proves disastrous, it is 

 practically indispensable in our rural organization, and on the 

 whole it may be looked upon as an institution favorable to the 

 interests of the farmer. 



Credit systems have an important influence upon the per- 

 centage of tenancy in a county. This is illustrated by the 

 experience of Germany. 



Tenancy in Germany is largely among the occupiers of the 

 very large and of the very small farms. This is shown in the 

 following table : 



TABLE XVII 



PERCENTAGE OF THE FARMS OF VARIOUS SIZES IN GERMANY WHICH WERE 

 COMPOSED SOLELY OF LEASED LAND, IN 1895 



Under 5 acres 1O . OI 



5 to 12.35 acres 3.54 



12.35 to 49.4 I-97 



49.4 to 247 acres 4.64 



247 acres and over 25.68 



