191 1.] A Spanish System of Estate Management. '399 



mass of agricultural labour, and thus contributing to the moral 

 and material peace of so important a class. 



I could enter into greater details in support of this system, 

 which, although open to objection on many grounds, when 

 considered from the economic point of view may, in spite of 

 all its defects and difficulties, give better results than many 

 others already in operation. Even though it may not attain 

 to the social end which we have in view, and of which we all 

 recognise the urgency, it will avoid, or at least modify, the 

 dangerous tendencies which are to-day rapidly spreading 

 among the rural population. 



By w^ay of conclusion to this humble essay I would present 

 to the Section the following conclusions : — 



In the present state of the social agrarian problem we must 

 seek, in order to retain the owner and the tenant on the land, 

 a system of management in which the owner shall be directly 

 interested in the produce of his estate, but in such a w^ay that 

 he shall not abandon the immediate and constant supervision 

 of his land. 



In the majority of cases this may be attained by grouping 

 three systems now chiefly in operation, viz. : (i) Direct culti- 

 vation by the owner; (2) Cultivation by tenants in exchange 

 for a share in the produce ; (3) Payment of a fixed rent for the 

 usufruct of certain lands to which the foregoing method is 

 not applicable. 



These three systems in combination on the same estate will 

 give excellent results, and will conduce to perfect harmony 

 between the two parties interested. Especially will this be 

 the case if by means of equitable arrangements all the produce 

 susceptible of further preparation can be transferred to the 

 owner or to persons capable of dealing with it properly, with 

 the exception of those crops which it is more convenient to 

 grow on lands at a lixed rent, owing to their being imme- 

 diately used by the tenant. 



In addition, if the owners concern themselves, as they are 

 bound to do, both by their interest and by moral obligation, 

 in the religious, physical and moral welfare of their tenants, 

 we should reach a condition which would be in harmony with 

 present social needs, and prevent either owners or tenants 

 from leaving the land. 



