36 THE BOOK OF THE LANDED ESTATE. 



number of inferior men and low profits, and to see his estate fall far 

 behind in the general march of improvement. 



A r iewing the subject of small farms in the light of their effect on the 

 aspect of the country, they are equally as objectionable as when seen 

 from the points already indicated. Their small buildings, and their 

 crowded and generally badly-kept fences, together with their necessarily 

 small enclosures, give a mean appearance to any district in which they 

 prevail, while the generally inferior live-stock in the fields betoken the 

 want of enterprise and prosperity in their owners. In all respects, 

 therefore, they are objectionable, and should be dealt with so as to give 

 place to large and extended fields of operation, where men of superior 

 intelligence, with large capital, will have scope for their energies, and 

 from which both proprietors - and tenants will be certain to realise good 

 profits as the result and reward of skill and industry. 



But although it is advisable in many respects to consolidate small 

 farms into larger holdings, still there is a medium size of farms which is 

 desirable. Farms of all sizes are found all over the country, from the 

 small " cow-gate " and croft of the English cottager and the Highland 

 crofter, to the mountain grazier with his farm several miles square. 

 Farms on which mixed husbandry is carried out range from three hun- 

 dred to six hundred acres, and even more, in extent ; and in districts 

 where dairy farming is practised, the farms range from one hundred and 

 fifty to three hundred acres. As a general rule, farms should not be 

 larger than the tenant can thoroughly superintend himself; and, of 

 course, the kind of husbandry carried on will have to determine this. 

 The enlargement of farms to a certain point, as regulated by circum- 

 stances, and then letting them to tenants with the necessary capital and 

 skill to insure first-class cultivation, is the best and quickest means of 

 bringing about improvements on an estate. With improved husbandry, 

 one man can generally produce more from a medium- sized farm than 

 from a very large one. Keeping this in view, it is always best, on a 

 large landed property, to have farms of different sizes so as to suit dif- 

 ferent farmers. As a general rule, taking into account the generality of 

 estates in this country, first-class farms, conducted on the principles of 

 mixed husbandry, should range from four hundred to six hundred acres 

 in extent, a second-class farm from two hundred to three hundred acres, 

 and a third-rate farm about one hundred and fifty acres. 



But although I have pointed out several objections against having 

 small farms as a rule on estates, yet it must not be supposed that I 

 condemn them altogether. The many different classes of people in this 

 country demands that we should have farms of different sizes, and 

 therefore there ought to be a few small farms on an estate ; but, as already 



