140 Rents, Wages, and Profits in Agriculture 



into different classes. The first class 

 consists of the farmers and graziers, most 

 of whom are employers of labour. The 

 figures are given for each census since 1851 

 (inclusive), but it is observed that up to 

 1 88 1 the numbers include those who are 

 described as retired, whilst in the later 

 censuses they are excluded. The general 

 conclusion is that the number of holders 

 of farms has not materially declined during 

 the half century, and it is specially note- 

 worthy that in the period 1891 to 1901 

 there has been an actual increase w^hich 

 has more than balanced the slight falling 

 off between 1881-1891. Here again, how- 

 ever, the figures are not strictly comparable, 

 as the poultry farmers in 1891 were included 

 under a different heading, and when this 

 allowance is made there may be a small 

 decrease. In many of the agricultural 

 counties, also, there is (even not allowing 



