xviii PREFACE 



money with which to come to the rescue. If 

 this is so, small men would not be so greatly 

 handicapped in comparison with large farmers, 

 and the relative odds are not so seriously 

 against them. There is no doubt, also, that 

 small holdings, whether cultivated by tenants 

 or by owners, will not succeed on every soil, 

 or in every locality, or under every sort of 

 management : their indiscriminate extension 

 would be a fatal blunder. Nor, finally, must 

 it be forgotten that there may come a time 

 when other nations will be competing with this 

 country in the world's markets for the purchase 

 of bread and meat. If and when that time 

 comes, it may prove that we shall be forced to 

 return to that system of large farms, which, 

 given plenty of capital and remunerative prices, 

 are the best factories of corn and beef and 

 mutton. 



On a number of other points, and especi- 

 ally on the reconstruction of village life, Mr. 

 Tollemache says much that is useful, and says 

 it well. Even those who differ from his 

 arguments and conclusions will find in his 

 book profitable and suggestive reading. 



ROWLAND E. PROTHERO. 



