13 



Farm) the matter would stand thus : — Farming- capital, <€3,500 ; the 

 vahie in fee simple of the estate (373 acres, 2 roods, 18 perches, at 19s. 6d. 

 per acre) £2Q6 15s. 5d. per annum, which, at 33 years^ purchase, would 

 be £8,803 8s. 9d., the two tog-ether being £12,303 8s. 9d., thus pro- 

 ducing an income of (£3, .500 at 10 per cent., and .€8,803 at 3 j^er cent.) 

 £G14 2s. Od. Now, if these capitals were united and employed eqiially 

 in farming at 10 per cent., they would realise £1,230 6s. lOd. per 

 annum. This command of capital by the freeholders and occupiers 

 jointly induced them to acquire larger holdings, while the smaller free- 

 holders merged their freeholds mostly into the adjoining estates belonging 

 to capitalists. During the period when the production of food for the mul- 

 titude, in increasing quantity, became absolutely necessary, the smaller 

 occupiers of land in detached portions disappeared ; the cost of working 

 their small holdings being much more expensive in comparison with the 

 larg-er areas, which were at the same time better cultivated. 



Nothing short of the yield produced on the Wilton House Home 

 Farm could have saved these small occupiers and satisfied the yearly 

 demand made upon farmers by the increasing demands of the people. 

 The annual products per acre, on an average of 23 years, amounted 

 to £22 6s. 4jd. {iritle folio 19). And it may confidently be asked, 

 Where is the small holding to be found which has ever attained such 

 a result? Yet nothing short of it can satisfy the requirements necessary 

 for the maintenance of the population of the country. 



This change of circumstances naturally induced the landed aristocracy 

 to make their farms into areas suitable to the occupation of the o-en- 

 tleman-farmer, and also with a view to save themselves extra cost in 

 farm homesteads ; but in many instances their decision led them into 

 error by making their holdings too large ! This mistake has been 

 avoided in arranging the farms for the consequences of " free trade " on 

 the estate in which this home farm forms an integral part, and, though 

 the farms have been allocated as best suited to the aspect of the country, 

 yet their areas have been apportioned so as to give a margin for intel- 

 ligent and persevering men obtaining such an income as would induce 

 capitalists to embark in the occupation of such holdings. 



With a view to check indiscretion in running to the extreme, of 

 making- farms too small and thereby reverting- to the usag-es of past 

 times, perhaps the following instance will best illustrate my meaning : — 

 Supposing a farm of 1,000 acres, let at £1 an acre, is found necessary to 

 be divided into two holdings of 500 acres each, the cost of the division, 

 if the landlord is intended to be remunerated for his investment in build- 

 ings, could only be defrayed by letting the divisions at an extra rent of 



