236 SUBDIVISION IN OTHEK COUNTKIES 



settled farms is heavier than on farms still held on the old 

 system. 



K. Belgium, — In Belgium the Code Napoleon is in force 

 and its operation has resulted in the creation of many small 

 holdings, but in Flanders, at any rate, the holdings, though 

 small, have not been seriously split up into separate parcels. 

 This danger to a large extent was averted by the sagacity 

 and care of the small land-owners. M. Emile de Lavalaye 

 states : * " The Flemish peasant attaches too much value to 

 the proper outline of a field to break it up into pieces ; he 

 would rather sell it altogether. He would never think of 

 dividing the farm he cultivates amongst his children. On 

 the contrary he will submit to extraordinary sacrifices to 

 give the farm the size and typical shape it should have." 



L. Holland. — In Holland there is an interesting tenure 

 known as Beklem-reght which constitutes a permanent tenant 

 right. This right can be sold, mortgaged or bequeathed, 

 and is very similar to the Occupancy Eight of the Bombay 

 Presidency, but with this important difference that the right 

 is indivisible and so presents an effective bar to injurious 

 subdivision of land. In spite of this they are proposing in 

 Holland to introduce legislation to facilitate restripment. 



M. Jersey. — In Jersey the Law of Inheritance is sub- 

 stantially the same as in France, but with this important 

 difference that when a farm is of an area less than 1J acre 

 the eldest son inherits the whole. 



N. Japan. — 70 per cent, of the holdings in Japan are 

 smaller than 2J acres, and are much fragmented. The 

 cultivated land of Japan is for the most part subdivided 

 into small, narrow and irregular lots, with an insufficient 

 and often unreasonable system of roads, and often im- 

 perfectly and not suitably irrigated and drained. With the 

 object of increasing the produce of the soil, and preventing 



* " Land System of Belgium and Holland," by M. Emile de 

 Lavalaye (1880). 



