SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC HISTORY 



But this prosperity was short-lived ; agricultural distress, though not so 

 marked in Dorset as in other counties, yet made itself felt in several direc- 

 tions. The year 1879 was a bad season for everything, and from that time 

 may be dated the depression which has settled over modern agriculture, 

 especially in the north and extreme west of the county. ^°^ Gradually, but 

 surely, farming has become unprofitable : of course bad seasons accentuate 

 agricultural depression, but it was inevitable with the immense fall in prices. 

 From the last half of the nineteenth century, in other words since the 

 establishment of free trade, the price of corn has fallen. Speaking of the 

 agricultural depression Mr. Rew said in 1895 : — 



In addition to the fall in the prices of corn, there has been also a fall to some, though 

 not to so great an, extent in the price of stock and a serious and permanent fall in the price 

 of wool. As regards stock it must be remembered that it is always subject to fluctuation 

 from year to year : still there is in later years a distinct fall in the level of prices. As 

 regards wool, many farmers told me that they could not get more than tenpence a pound, 

 whereas twenty years ago they could count upon is. 6d. the pound.*^" 



One witness pointed out that this makes a difference of from 3J. to 4J-. per 

 head per annum on each sheep. He was told that cows let at from £2 to 

 £2 l^ss than before,**^^ clearly showing that they were not so profitable as 

 formerly. In West Dorset flax, which had been a considerable form of wealth, 

 had become unprofitable, as it was worth ^5 the acre less than in 1884, 

 doubtless owing to foreign competition.""* On the other hand the general 

 fall in prices has brought some compensation, such as cheaper agricultural 

 implements, artificial manures, and feeding stuffs, which must be remembered 

 when considering the low price of the produce. 



The effects of this depression have been, as regards the landowner, a 

 fall in rents,^" which on the whole has been greater in mid and east Dorset, 

 that is on the poorer soils.^^* The average fall in rents on dairy farms has 

 probably been from 10 per cent, to 20 per cent., though on the best dairy 

 farms there may have been little or no reduction of rent ; whilst on mixed 

 farms the fall has been from 20 per cent, to 30 per cent., and on thin 

 poor soils as much as 40 per cent, or 50 per cent. As regards the farmers 

 who rent the land, it is in most cases quite an unprofitable occupation, 

 especially for the occupiers of poor farms where corn-growing is the main 

 pursuit.^" The receipts from stock-farming and dairying are considerably 

 higher than those from corn-growing ; and it is the fact that farmers do not 

 rely on one or even on two branches of agriculture that has prevented the 

 losses in Dorset being heavier than they have been in some counties. In 

 Dorset farmers do not so much become bankrupt all at once, as lose gradually, 

 a slow but sure process. ^^' Naturally there is a shrinkage of the already- 

 existing farmers' capital, and bankers have become cautious about advancing 

 money upon land. Under these circumstances it is not surprising that 



"' Par/. Accounts and Papers, i88z, xv, 25. 



*'' Ibid. 1895, xvii; 'Rep. on Agric. Depression,' 11, iz. '"' Ibid. 



'" Ibid. S :— 



Table Showing Decrease in Flax-growing 



Year Acres of flax grown Year Acres of flax grown 



1889 232 1892 56 



1890 195 1893 36 



189I 109 '894 25 



^" Ibid. 12. "° Ibid. 14. "' Ibid. 16, '»' Ibid. 19. 



2 257 33 



