THE GOOD SIDE OF SMALL HOLDINGS 293 



tempted to try their fortune notwithstanding the price 

 of produce. 



On sixteen estates in Lincolnshire there are 1447 

 holdings under 50 acres, 204 from 50 to lOO, 243 from 

 100 to 200, and 321 between 200 and 500, and 96 over 

 500 acres. 



There is no doubt some sacrifice of possible interests 

 of children in the work of small farms, where the 

 labour, practically unpaid, of the wife and children, is 

 essential to success. 



The whole question turns on the natural aptitude and 

 tastes of the would-be small farmer and his family. It 

 is a hard, but independent and wholesome life, and those 

 who enter on it with vigour of mind and body, and 

 capital enough at a reasonable figure, plainly do very 

 well indeed. 



A small owner of 60 acres says : — " Small holdings 

 are a benefit to the community. People who employ 

 no labour and keep pigs, hens, cows, and grow vegetables 

 can live. Borrowing money has done the harm, both 

 when buying land and stocking the farm." 



But small holdings may be looked at from another 

 point of view than the benefit of the small holder. " The 

 increase in the number of such holdings would create a 

 larger resident population of hardworking thrifty char- 

 acter, with local interests, and less likely to migrate if 

 they could get a fair margin of profit." 



The suggestion is made by many of the heavily mort- 

 gaged small freeholders that the State should advance 

 money at a lower interest to set them free, and that 

 this margin would pull them through. 



It must be remembered that some of the land speci- 

 ally suited for small holdings is very heavily rated, both 

 for ordinary purposes, and for the special drainage 

 needed in the fen countries. Heavy railway rates have 

 also been a great drawback to success in the more 

 remote districts. 



The whole question is economic. The advantage of 

 the security which attaches to ownership is lost, if in 

 bidding a price a purchaser is really saddling himself 



