26G 
The Survival in Farming. 
what couflictiug evidence in relation to each of the two questions. 
One, whose observations have been made chiefly in Cumberland 
and Westmoreland, Avliere stock-rearing is the prominent feature 
of the farming, with dairying in the second place, says that 
" good farming (high, but not extravagant) has stood the de- 
pression the best " ; and that not many failures have taken place, 
while " those that have occurred have generally been amongst 
the smaller class." The other witness, confining his remarks to 
Cumberland, says that '• industrious working farmers, who per- 
sonally superintend their own business thoroughly, not being 
amateurs, have best withstood the depression." He agrees, 
however, with the other observer in stating that farmers holding 
100 to 300 acres have held their own best. But while the 
former witness names want of sufficient capital as the principal 
cause of failure, the latter says " insufficient practical training 
and want of steady application." Conversely, the latter witness 
attributes the success of those who have attained it to steady 
and continuous attention to business on the part of industrious 
occupiers who have an adequate knowledge of live-stock. 
Writing in relation to another pasture district, the North 
Midland dairy and breeding country, Mr. Gilbert Murray says 
that " the men who have held their own are those who have 
bred their own stock and consumed the principal part of the 
cereal produce of their farms, and. in addition, have been large 
purchasers of supplementary foods at low prices ; " also that 
" farms of 80 to 200 acres have been most remunerative, owing 
to the labour difficulty, wages being now ISs. to 2ls. per week." 
Insufficient capital to stock the land is named as the chief cause 
of failure. 
Extensive grazing and dairying districts, as well as a con- 
siderable area of arable land, are covered by a report from Mr. 
J. Perkins, junr., of Loughton, Rugby, whose observations relate 
to parts of Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Rutland, Warwick- 
shire, Staffordshire, and other counties. He is of opinion that 
large graziers, breeders of sheep and cattle, dairy farmers on 
suitable holdings, including makers of Stilton and other kinds 
of cheese, have done best. " High fanners,"' he says, " have best 
held their own where they used skill and judgment;" and, 
although " low farmers have often saved money," in too many 
instances it has been " at the expense of the land." " These 
remarks," Mr. Perkins holds, " apply to every sort and size of 
farm." Insufficiency of capital and want of judgment in 
buying and selling, as well as circumstances which affect all 
farmers alike, and which therefore do not elucidate the question 
at issue, are named as the causes of failure where it has occurred. 
