58 American Economic Association [856 



increasing amount of capital requisite for farm proprie- 

 torship makes it more and more difficult for a member 

 of the dependent class (i. <?., an agricultural laborer), to 

 become a proprietor. 1 His option to work for himself 

 or to work for wages is more and more qualified, and 

 hence the greater proportionate increase in the mem- 

 bership of the dependent class. That there has been 

 a constant increase in the amount of capital requisite 

 for farm proprietorship will be evident from an inspec- 

 tion of the following data, showing for this group of 

 seven states, as reported to the Census Office : 



1. The average value, per farm, of all farm property, 

 including land with improvements, implements and 

 machinery, and livestock was in 1880, $3,515 ; in 1890, 

 $4,859; in 1900, $6,53i. 2 



2. The average value, per farm, of lands with im- 

 provements, including buildings was in 1880, $2,835 ; 

 in 1890, $3,930; in 1900, $5,358. 3 



3. The average value, per farm, of implements and 

 machinery on farms : In 1880, $136 was in 1890, 

 $151 ; in 1900, $2o8. 4 



The rate at which these several factors have in- 

 creased will appear in the following : 



1<4 No Knglish agricultural labourer, in his most sanguine dreams, 

 has the vista of occupying, still less of possessing, land. He cannot 

 rise in his calling. He cannot cherish any ambition, and he is in 

 consequence dull and brutish, reckless and supine." Rogers : His- 

 tory of Agriculture and Prices, Vol. I, p. 693. 



2 Twelfth Census, Agriculture I, pp. 688 and 694. 



3 Idem., pp. 688 and 696. 

 *Zdem., pp. 688 and 698. 



