The Survival in FarmiiUj. 
269 
sold pretty well. In the mixed fanniug districts the low- 
farmers had the advantage during the wet seasons ; but " in fair 
average seasons, good — not extravagant — farming will always 
answer the best." As to whether large or small fai'mers have 
best withstood the depression, Mr. llowlandson says that there 
is no rule, as " it has depended entirely on the man himself, 
.and the farm he occupied." He adds — " No doubt, a man 
with a large family of sons, all workers, has apparently done the 
best ; but in many of these cases the wage due to the sons has 
not been paid. This practice has ofteii enabled a man to pay a 
much higher rent than he would, had he paid for his labour, 
have been able to afford." The failure of some, according to my 
coiTespondent, is attributable to their occupying a larger acreage 
than they had capital for, and that of others to incompetent 
management ; while rare business capability, skill in the buying 
and selling of stock, close attention to all details, and practical 
knowledge of all farm work, have enabled many to succeed in 
spite of the depression. 
Mr. William Abbot, of Holbeach and London, says that in 
the South Holland district of Lincolnshire, w^hei'e arable and 
grazing farming prerail, high farmers have passed through the 
period of depression better than low farmers, and large and 
medium occupiers better than small holders. High rents under 
leases taken in better times are mentioned as having caused 
many failures. " With low farming," it is added, " small yields 
have resulted, and, market prices ruling so low, produce has not 
made sufficient to cover expenses." Moreover, " store stock 
have been pui-chased very dear, and sold when fat very cheap." 
But " farmers who have farmed high, and got good crops, have 
been able to meet the markets better," and " some graziers have 
been more fortunate than others with their stock." 
In Bedfordshire, with its mixed farming, according to a firm 
of land agents in extensive practice, " the best farmers," and 
those occupying " large and medium-sized farms," have passed 
through the bad times most successfully. Apart from the low 
price of corn, and the depreciation in the value of fat stock, 
insufficiency of capital is named as the chief cause of failure ; 
and, conversely, the possession of plenty of capital, and the 
skilful farming of good land, are given as the sources of success 
in withstanding depression. 
Mr. Charles Elsworthy, of Upwell, reporting on Cambridge- 
shire, where the farming is chiefly arable and grazing, says that, 
" taken upon the whole, medium and small farmers have with- 
stood the depression best," and that the principal cause of failure 
has been " lack of capital," Grazing last year did badly, but 
