270 
The Survival in Farminr/. 
arable better, chiefly because potatoes were extensively grown, 
and sold well. The reference to lack of capital as the chief 
cause of failure, tells in favour of high farming. 
Very distinct answers to my questions are given by Mr. H. 
.J. Gayford, of East Raynham, Fakenham, in relation to North- 
west Norfolk, where the laud is nearly all arable, and there are 
few farms under 100 acres, the general run being from 500 to 
700 acres, with some up to 1000, and a few larger. He writes : 
" The men who have best withstood the depression are men of 
business capacity, with ample capital, who have always been 
well stocked, and have been able to economise in working 
expenses, and to purchase in the cheapest markets."' Similar in 
purport is the statement that want of capital has been the chief 
cause of failure, and sufficient capital and enterprise the secrets 
of success. As to the few small farmers, Mr. Gayford says that 
their land is " generally badly farmed," and that they are 
" doing badly."' 
Mr. G. E. Walker, of Woodbridge, writing on East Suffolk, 
where the farming is chiefly arable, says that the large occupiers 
and those wdio have farmed well have come through the trial 
best, though a few of the small farmers have done well where 
the land is extra good. Increase iu the cost of labour and 
Avant of capital are named as the chief causes of failure, while 
farming well and paying special attention to breeding have 
been instrumental in keeping farmers from ruinous losses, the 
county having distinct breeds of horses, cattle, and sheep. 
Witli respect to Essex, where the farms are chiefly arable, 
the verdict of a well-known firm upon the county as a whole is 
that farmers who have farmed well, so as to keep up their 
occupations to a fair standard, have met the bad times best. No 
general rule applies as to size of farms, success or failure 
having depended wpon the ability and capital of the tenant. 
The causes of failure mentioned are unpropitious seasons, the 
low prices of produce, the high prices of store cattle and sheep, 
and the low j^rices of fat stock. On heavy soils, adapted only 
for corn, prices, it is added, have been ruinous, although land- 
lords, in the ex])('rience of the writer in all pai'ts of the county, 
liave reduced rents from 20 to 70 per cent. 
Referring in general t(>rms to all the Home Counties, Messrs. 
Simmons & Sons, of Reading, write as follows : — " Our expe- 
rience of the last ten years is that the men wlio have stood their 
ground best iu the face of the depression which has affected 
agricultui'c liave been those who have occupied farms of about 
250 acres, with a proportion of at least one-fourtli grass, and 
who have directed their attention to the rearing and raising of 
