756 BEPORT— 1886. 



Effect of Code Napoleon in breaking up large estates only gradually felt in 

 Germany and Italy. 



Norway long considered a model coimtry, her laud tenure held up as superior to 

 any other country — comfort of the bonders. Present time official reports of the 

 Prefects sadly dift'erent, ruinous sub-division of land, increase of rural taxation, 

 distress great, poor relief increased enormously, land left uncultivated, and a cry 

 for protection. This is the demand in all the reports, France, Germany, Italy, 

 Russia, and Switzerland. 



' How else can the small proprietors live ? ' is constantly inquired. As they buy 

 next to nothing, tbey care nothing for cheap imports, but require ■ their manufac- 

 turing neighbours to pay dearer for their corn and meat as the price of their exist- 

 ence. No division of labour in production. Discomfort, misery, and ignorance 

 described by French writers as grievous among the peasantry. 



The population in .34 departments is diminishing. Average of three children 

 necessary to keep up the number is not attained. Lafargue speaks of the ' alarming 

 state of France, which is passing through a terrible agricultural crisis, great subdivi- 

 sion not allowing the use of machines,' &c. 



* Average yield of wheat in France and Germany rather less than half in 

 England,' says Sir James Caird. In Italy even less, Russia lowest of all. Mort- 

 gages oppressive everywhere. ' Getting rid of landlords and their rents the peasants 

 subject themselves to an invisible order, the mortgagers aud their heavier and more- 

 rigid rents,' says Lecouteux, ' who sell tbem up if they do not pay the interest.' 



Three million proprietors out of eight are on the pauper lists of France. In. 

 Prussia 82 per cent, exempt from direct taxation by reason of poverty ; 7,000,000 

 heads of families earn less than 9s. Id. per week. 



' All peasants certainly are not in debt, but in many parts of Germany their 

 mortgages are from 54 to 94 per cent, on real property,' says the German report. 



Strange remedies proposed, as to take away the power of mortgaging either- 

 wholly or in part (the heaviest charges incurred being to buy off the equal portions 

 of the younger children), to make a majorat, i.e., to restore primogeniture. 



In Russia no labour is to be had, each man occupied on his own property, 

 agriculture wretched, scarcely any manure used, the produce from 2^ to 4|- of 

 quantity sown. (In England about 15 for winter and 20 for spring corn.) The- 

 land is worked out. Peasants in the hands of the Jews, who foreclose mortgages 

 and take possession of the land. Whole country said to be on the verge of 

 bankiuptcy. 



Report of Italian commission declares condition of rural population miserable, 

 produce of corn only 11 hectolitres, in France 15, and Germany the same. Eng- 

 land 32. Twenty-five per cent, of the 5,000,000 owners peasants. * Our piece- 

 meal agriculture without machines must fail, these impossible on such small pro- 

 perties.' Work entailed on the women so excessive that it is said ' women are 

 bargained for like cattle, and toil like Indian squaws.' 



The enormous interest paid to usurers complained of. In Apulia short loans 

 charged even 120 per cent. 



The account from Switzerland of agricultural population dismal, the produce 

 very low, the land cut up into slices, overburdened with agricultural buildings, and 

 heavily mortgaged. The farms so small that no machinery can be used; there is a 

 cry to re-create large farms, and for help from State, notwithstanding cheap 

 transfer of land, of property after a death, equal di-visions, free education, &c. 



British Consul at Nantes says that vines have failed, and farmers cannot com- 

 pete with foreign corn, there is outcry for increased protection ; number of peasants' 

 votes so large in subdivision of property, that Government cannot resist pressure 

 for increasing the prices of bread and meat to the rest of the community. At last 

 election 6 Conservatives returned instead of 6 Liberals in the department of Nantes. 



' The English labourer.' says Professor Voelcker, ' is unquestionably at least 50' 

 per cent, better off than the small peasant proprietor.' ' He works twice as hard 

 and lives half as well as the English labourer,' says Mr. Jenkins. ' A tenant,' says 

 Sir James Caird, ' has the use of his landlord's capital at a very low rate, and can 

 spend his own in a more remunerative way.' 



