THE TYPICAL AMERICAN FARM. 55 



in reversing this condition ; of 4,008,907 holdings, 

 only 2,208,374 were of the classes named ; of the classes 

 between ten and one hundred acres there were 2,069,133, 

 or 51 per cent., while those over 100 acres had risen to 

 1,800,533.' 



Still more important does this rapid change appear, 

 when we compare each class by their acres. Then we 

 begin to realize something of the real magnitude of the 

 change. So far as we can gather from the census reports 

 in i860, not more than 30 per cent, of the farm lands 

 were held by owners of over 100 acres ; in 1880, not 

 less than 75 per cent, was in the hands of this class. In 

 i860, the acres in possession of holders of above 500 

 acres were (taking the lowest limit of average) not over 4 

 per cent, of the total ; in 1S80, not less than 12 percent. 



It may be contended that all these movements toward 

 increase in the average size of land-holdings are taking 

 place only in the West, where foreigners have absorbed 

 so much of the land that the old States are holding to 

 their normal conditions. Even if this were the case, it 

 would not do much to disprove the statement that the 

 typical American farm was disappearing ; but what are 

 the facts even in this case ? We select three of the most 

 prominent of the farming States of New England, for the 

 purpose of comparison — Massachusetts, Maine, and Ver- 

 mont. These old States contained, in 1860, 94,723 holders 

 of land of 100 acres and under ; in 1880, only 73,892 ; 

 whereas, of holdings of upwards of 100 acres, there was 

 an increase of 34,435, or from 23,412 to 57,847. 



In the foregoing calculation all holdings below ten 

 acres are included. In 1880 they amounted to about 5 



' It must be remembered that but for the subdivision of plantations 

 in the South, since i860, the total change in the comparative decrease 

 of small holdings would appear far more conspicuously. 



