SALES OF ESTATES 23 



can be obtained, and land is fetching a better 

 price than it has done for some years. The 

 social advantages attached to the holding of 

 land are not so pronounced as in former times ; 

 and the landowner, frightened at the trend of 

 legislation, finds it an opportune moment to 

 realize capital which can be employed more 

 remuneratively elsewhere, while escaping the 

 possibility of future taxation. 



Estates are therefore being thrown into the 

 market wholesale. The holding of agricul- 

 tural land in the hands of a few may not be 

 beneficial to British farming in the long run. 

 " The breaking up of large estates," which was 

 admittedly the intention of recent legislation, 

 is a policy worthy of careful consideration. 

 But before their " breaking up " commenced, 

 it would have been wiser to have foreseen the 

 effect on the occupier. 



The situation of a tenant farmer when a 

 landlord proposes to sell is precarious. He is 

 under notice to quit, which may or may not 

 come into operation : at the best the estate 

 may be bought as a whole, but even this 

 involves an immediate revision of all rents. 

 On the other hand, each holding may be put 



