296 AGRICULTURAL DEPRESSION 



The Small Farms Company has shown that "the 

 inclination of this type of man is to buy an acre or two 

 on which to put their buildings and their house, and 

 rent the rest." They are industrious, and have greatly 

 improved the poor soil of the farm on the Berkshire 

 Downs which Lord Wantage handed over to the 

 Company, 



It is found to be better, Lord Wantage says, not to 

 have too many small holdings together, as outside 

 employment is needed to supplement the earnings from 

 the land. 



His own small tenants prefer a yearly tenancy, on an 

 honourable understanding that they will not be disturbed, 

 if they go on paying rent. " Even if they fall into 

 arrears, they will not usually be disturbed." 



One difficulty in small holdings is that the village 

 system naturally leads the men to try to get the choice 

 bits of accommodation land. If population were better 

 distributed, there would be less competition between the 

 would-be small farmer and the big farmers for the 

 choicer bits of land. 



Lord Wantage gave an interesting account of his 

 experiment in profit sharing on his farms in hand, which 

 amounted to 2344 arable, 1833 meadow, and 250 acres 

 of down land. Dividing a fourth of the profits, the 

 bonus to the men has ranged from 60s down to los. 

 This system has stimulated active interest in the work, 

 and increased results, while the labourers learn to under- 

 stand better the position of profit and loss from year 

 to year.^ 



" I would adopt the system on any farm of any size 

 which I was cultivating myself." 



" The trouble is nothing compared in my estimation 

 with the advantages which are to be got by it." ^ 



Its effects are shown in the aggregate increase of 

 population in the two parishes concerned, while the 

 population of the whole union has been decreasing. 



Lord Wantage also favours large allotments, finding 

 jnany men work them well. 



' Lord Wantage, 4490, 4512. * Ibid. 4628,4675. 



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