SUBDIVISION OF HOLDINGS 65 



distinct features. The first is that the holdings tend 

 to become very small. The second is that individual 

 holdings, whether large or small, tend to become 

 broken up into a number of separate plots, often 

 situated at a considerable distance from each other. 

 These two tendencies differ both in their origin and 

 in their results, and it is necessary to distinguish 

 between them. It is proposed to designate the 

 former as " subdivision of holdings," and the latter 

 as " fragmentation of holdings". 



The term " subdivision " refers only to the size of 

 the holdings. Subdivision must tend to occur in any 

 thickly populated country when the number of per- 

 sons, dependent directly on the land, increases ; but 

 the tendency is found to bear a very direct relation 

 to the law of inheritance which is in force. In the 

 Bombay Presidency it is governed by the Hindu law 

 of inheritance, the operation of which is more marked 

 in its effects than the law of any other country, 

 since it gives to each male member of a family an 

 equal share of the family property from the time 

 of his birth, and allows him to claim a partition at 

 any time. There is much to be said in favour of 

 the subdivision of land as tending to a widespread 

 and equitable distribution of wealth and opportunity 

 amongst a large number of persons, and as giving to 

 a large proportion of the people who cultivate the 

 land a direct interest in and attachment to it. It is 

 only when subdivision becomes very excessive that 



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