454 



READINGS IN RURAL ECONOMICS 



In Spain compare Estremadura, the Castiles, or even Anda- 

 lusia, with the kingdom of Valencia, and with Lower Catalonia. 

 Where small farming prevails, the land is a garden ; where the 

 estates are large, a desert. 



In Belgium the small-farm provinces, the Flanders, own more 

 cattle, yield more produce, are more carefully cultivated, and have 

 more agricultural capital than those in which large estates are pre- 

 dominant, as will be seen from the subjoined table. Here I have 

 compared East Flanders with Namur ; and it is to be noticed that 

 in the former province the land is much poorer than in the latter. 



Heads of cattle per ioo hectares . . . 



Working capital per hectare 



Produce per hectare 



Rent per hectare 



Average selling price of land per hectare 

 Number of inhabitants per ioo hectares . 



Namur 



35 



250 francs 



300 francs 



50 francs 



1804 francs 



138 



Flanders, East 



68 



450 francs 



600 francs 



93 francs 



3218 francs 



263 



Let us carry out the parallel drawn by Arthur Young, between 

 the results of small and large farming, by placing spade and 

 plough side by side before us. 



Throughout Flanders, and especially in the Waes country, the 

 spade is often used to prepare the soil before sowing. To dig 

 up one hectare , with the spade, at the rate of 5 ares per diem, 

 20 days are required, and an outlay of 30 francs ; whilst the 

 same work done with the plough would cost no more than 6 

 or 7 francs, perhaps less. Thus spade-work costs five times as 

 much as plough-work, which is an enormous balance in favour 

 of the latter. 



descended from father to son undivided, undiminished, and through mismanage- 

 ment and neglect are at this moment so many waste lands in the possession of 

 proprietors who themselves have not the means of cultivating them, and who will 

 not allow others to do so. Hence, there being no employment for agricultural 

 labourers, the Transteganos have dispersed themselves over the other provinces, 

 leaving the feudal lords in full possession of their land, their pride, and their 

 poverty" (p. 102). Of the south of Portugal it may also be said, Latifundia 

 perdidere Lus it a n ia m . 



