SOME ECONOMIC INTERESTS 137 



other places in Donegal, Ireland, two meetings attended were 

 like religious services. The cooperative movement in the vi- 

 cinity of the Temple Crone Society is regarded by the people 

 as divinely inaugurated, inspired, directed and sustained. 



It could scarcely be expected that a movement with such bene- 

 ficial results could have been inaugurated and successfully 

 furthered apart from close association with the Christian 

 churches. In many of the cooperative enterprises it was found 

 that the clergymen have played an important part. 



B. OWNERSHIP AND TENANCY 

 TENANT FARMING 1 



JOHN M. GILLETTE 



THERE is a tendency somewhat pronounced toward the opera- 

 tion of farms by tenants rather than by the owners. The owners 

 ceased operation to the extent of almost ten per cent., in the 

 twenty years between 1880 and 1900, and tenantry was sub- 

 stituted. The results appear to ensue chiefly from three causes. 

 First, the investment in farm lands by city residents generally 

 in proximity to their municipality, and second, from the retire- 

 ment of well-to-do farmers into the neighboring city or village. 

 Third, a larger period is required to save money with which to 

 buy a farm than was previously the case. As a consequence, each 

 successive generation of fanners must remain longer in the 

 tenant class. 



The tendencies in the United States are not decisively toward 

 extended consolidation and enlarged holdings. In the regions 

 where the enlargement is most noteworthy, it is apparently due 

 to the operation of causes other than the advantage in production 

 which arises from large holdings. Quick and large rises in land 

 values, as in Iowa and Illinois, have induced multitudes of 



* Adapted from "Constructive Kural Sociology," pp. 130-137, liy permis- 

 sion, copyright 1013, lOHi, by Stur^is X \Y;iltoii Company, N. V. Copy- 

 right now held liy Tin- Macmillan Company. 



