292 AGRICULTURAL DEPRESSION 



Mr Wilson Fox gives one instance of energy and 

 adaptiveness evolving remarkable success.^ A man 

 who bought 12 acres at £106 an acre, and growing 

 early potatoes, bulbs, fruit, flowers, also keeping pigs, 

 poultry, and bees, and taking up each new line that 

 pays, actually made a profit of £S6 and ;^iii in 1893 

 and 1894, and has "always made money," and, since he 

 got his land into condition, has always saved money, 

 and has cleared off nearly all his purchase money in 

 these bad times. ^ 



In spite of the enormous difficulties, the men who are 

 fit for the work, with energy and capital enough, can do 

 well, if the price is not too high. 



The temptation to start with small savings on too large 

 a scale has been the real cause of disaster. 



A living is obtainable from as little as 10 acres of 

 "early potato ground," but with mixed farming from 

 30 to 50 acres seems necessary. 



The occupiers of small holdings of from 2 to 7 acres, 

 who also work as labourers and do higgling, are doing 

 well, and so are small shopkeepers who combine small 

 farming with their business. 



The life has undoubtedly been hard, the work heavy, 

 and in the worst times, anxiety has been oppressive, but 

 on the whole Mr Wilson Fox's summary of the evidence 

 he obtained as to their position from small holders shows 

 that the majority are holding on fairly well, with occa- 

 sional losses and a very narrow margin, but certainly 

 not worse off than the large farmers. The worst instance 

 he quotes, we note, is one, not of an owner, but of a 

 tenant of 30 acres. 



In the more favoured districts, such as Wainfleet and 

 Friskney, the state of things is much better. 



The competition for small farms is great and increas- 

 ing. " Foremen and labourers get good wages, and the 

 necessaries of life are cheaper." 



They save money more easily. They can also rent 

 and stock a farm for less money. Many are thus 



' Page 7*. ' This man values his land at £120 an acre now. 



