191 1.] Changes in the Number of Small Holdings. 123 
From 1903 to 1908 the number of small holdings in England 
and Wales diminished by 3,495. Prior to 1903 the latest avail- 
able figures as to holdings of different sizes are those resulting 
from a special inquiry in 1895, and from 1895 to 1908 the loss 
of small holdings in England and Wales amounted to no less 
Table A. 
Year. 
England. 
Wales. 
Total of England 
and Wales. 
1890* 
267,346 
41,944 
309,290 
1895 
257,646 
4I.732 
299,378 
1903 
248,936 
41,735 
290,671 
1904 
248, 104 
41,895 
289,999 
1905 
247,854 
42,013 
289,867 
I906 
246,934 
41,992 
288,926 
1907 
246,896 
42,197 
289,093 
I908 
245, 102 
42,074 
287,176 
I909 
245>856 
42,155 
288,OII 
I9IO 
246,584 
42,218 
288,802 
* The holdings of one acre have been deducted in the proportion ascertained 
in 1895. 
than 12,202. At the previous inquiry in 1890 holdings of 
precisely one acre were included, whereas in later years they 
were excluded, so that an exact comparison is not possible. 
An estimated number of such holdings has, however, been 
deducted from the total of 1890, so as to obtain a comparable 
figure, and on this basis the loss of small holdings between 
1890 and 1895 was 9,912. It may be calculated, therefore, 
that during the 18 years 1890 to 1908 the reduction in the 
number of small holdings amounted to 22,000. 
The addition, therefore, of 1,626 in the two years 1908 to 
1910 affords evidence of a strong counteracting influence to the 
previous tendency. 
The figures in these returns record the net result at the end 
of the year of the changes which have taken place, from 
various causes and in opposite directions, during the preceding 
twelve months. This is especially the case in regard to the 
number of holdings. It is evident that by the contraction of 
the cultivated area — the acreage under crops and grass — a 
considerable number of farms must disappear every year, 
absorbed for the most part by the unrelenting growth of the 
urban districts. This process of absorption probably affects 
the number of small holdings to a greater extent than those 
