1906.] 



Small Holdings in Germany. 



37 



productive scil was easy of cultivation, while the large proportion 

 of pasture enabled a good stock of cattle to be kept. It was 

 split up into fifty-one holdings, of which thirteen were under 

 6j acres, fifteen under 25 acres, twenty from 25 to 62 acres, and 

 three above that area. The majority (32), however, were classed 

 as one-horse farms of an average size of about 32 acres, bearing 

 a rent of about 14s. per acre. 



Here, also, a very great increase in the number of live stock 

 is reported ; in September, 1903, there were 70 horses, 212 

 cattle, 340 pigs, and 771 head of poultry on the estate, whereas 

 before the subdivision there were only 27 horses, 88 cattle, 120 

 pigs, and practically no poultry. The number of persons, more- 

 over, living on the land was 300 compared with 70 when held 

 as one holding, or more than four times as many as before. 



It will be seen that the holdings were not generally very small 

 in size. The laws relating to the " Rentengiiter " did not, in fact, 

 contemplate the provision of holdings for agricultural labourers, 

 as it was thought that very small holdings did not on the one 

 hand afford sufficient security for the payment of the rent nor 

 secure the independent existence of the occupier. However, an 

 experiment was made at Zemitz in what are called " labourers' 

 holdings " of a size which would enable the occupier to keep a 

 cow and some pigs and geese sufficient to give him a certain 

 independence, but without releasing him from the necessity of 

 obtaining employment in the neighbourhood. The area chosen 

 for this purpose was 5 acres, of which 2^ acres were pasture, and 

 the remainder arable and garden land. The thirteen holdings, 

 which were thus arranged, were quickly sold, and the experiment 

 appears to have been successful. The holders are employed on 

 the larger holdings in the neighbourhood, being only entirely 

 occupied on their own land at times of tillage and harvesting. 



As was stated above, the work of the General Committees, 

 established by law to encourage the formation of small holdings, 

 is chiefly of an advisory character, and although three-fourths 

 of the purchase money is guaranteed by the State, the task of 

 converting a large estate into a number of small holdings is one 

 which not only requires considerable skill, but also the outlay 

 of substantial sums of money. To meet this difficulty to some 

 extent a law was passed (the so-called Zivischenkreditgcseiz of 

 1 2th July, 1900) providing for temporary advances to prevent 



