LANDLORDS IMPROVEMENTS I 25 



prosperous condition, without the wreckage of generation 

 after generation of farmers to be seen elsewhere. 



Mr Lipscomb says that the constant and increasing 

 outlay on the small farms of the Savile estates has 

 averted changes of tenancy. 



In Cornwall, where stock farming is increasing, land- 

 lords have increased their expenditure in providing the 

 necessary buildings. 



Mr Squarey thinks, as regards the south of England, 

 that the amount of outlay on permanent improvements 

 has been greatly diminished. The Lands Improvement 

 Company is doing much less business. 



Perhaps the most profitable permanent improvements 

 which landlords could make in many parts of the 

 country would be the subdivision of very large farms, 

 and the equipment with buildings of smaller farms. But 

 with existing resources and with existing prospects, this 

 is nearly impracticable. 



Sir Nigel Kingscote, one of the Commission, states 

 that the expenditure on improvements and repairs 

 on the agricultural estates of the Crown have been 

 ;^257,oi6 5s I id from 1879 to 1893. The rental was 

 £ii2,goo in 1879, and ;^72, 195 in 1893. The average 

 outlay was over i^ 17,000 a year, but has fallen to an 

 average of ^7800 in the years 1889-93. The heaviest 

 expenditure was on drainage after the wet years.^ 



On the agricultural estates of the Ecclesiastical Com- 

 missioners, between 1880 and 1892 inclusive, ;^8 12,438 

 has been expended on improvements and repairs on an 

 average rental of ;^295,ooo, about 21 per cent, per 

 annum. 



On the three estates of Guy's Hospital, in all 22,605 

 acres, about ;^6ooo a year was formerly expended, but 

 now, owing to reductions, only half that amount. 



The Duchy of Lancaster draws about ;^ 19,800 from 

 about 17,000 acres of agricultural land. On this there 

 has been expended in improvements since 1880 about 

 £6t,,SOO, or about ^^4000 a year. 



The official information supplied by the Board of 

 ' Vol. I, Appendix A. i, etc. 



