60 SETTLEMENT ON THE LAND 



distinction as is generally supposed between ownership 

 and tenancy ; and that most small holders do not 

 want to buy. 



It is not necessary to discuss a very large subject 

 here, but it may be said that many persons who 

 are intimately acquainted with small holdings re- 

 main unconvinced by the arguments in favour of 

 tenancy. The truth is that there is room for both 

 principles. Moreover, it ought to be remembered that 

 a large proportion of farmers in England and Wales 

 are in effect small holders although their farms are 

 not included in the Statutory definition of a small 

 holding (50 acres) ; and that among this class of farmer 

 the desire for ownership is generally strong. The 

 example of Denmark should never be forgotten. 

 There 89 per cent, of the small farmers are owners. 



VI 



THE WIVES 



The members of the State colonies will be employed 

 at a weekly wage during their training till they have 

 quahfied to become tenants. But a very important 

 matter is the attitude of the wives towards a country 

 life. A man whose wife is ill-disposed for it should 

 not normally be considered a suitable applicant for a 

 small holding, as success or failure must depend enor- 

 mously on the helpfulness of a man's family and 

 especially of his wife. A woman can feed the pigs and 

 the poultry, milk cows, keep the books, and so on, 

 and it is probable that instruction for women in all 

 these things will soon be provided. But of course 



