44 PROBLEMS OF VILLAGE LIFE 



the raw material of sound business, but as the 

 delectable pleasure-ground of a fortunate 

 minority. This type of land-absorption 

 accentuates the evils of the countryside ; 

 it is a case, as Mr. Rider Haggard would say, 

 of the land being supported by men rather 

 than men by the land. 



The system of large estates provides special 

 difficulties in the creation of small holdings. 

 The small holder breaks up the country into 

 minute divisions, and in some cases injures 

 it from the point of view of the scenery. He 

 gives a considerable amount of extra trouble 

 to the agent, who prefers to collect his rents 

 and to carry out his various dealings and 

 negotiations among a smaller number of 

 substantial tenants. More than all, and this 

 is a really serious difficulty, the small holder 

 has generally a rooted objection to any shoot- 

 ing or hunting on his piece of land. He is 

 particular about trifling losses. He com- 

 plains more loudly than the large farmer of 

 the damage done by hares and rabbits to 

 his small but closely-tended crops ; of the 

 turnips grazed by the sportsman's boots in 

 September ; of the gaps made in his fences, 

 and the deep hoof marks in his fields, where, 

 on the heavier soils, the water may stand for 

 days. He is not likely to be propitiated, like 



