442 Allotments and Small Holdings. 
rities had not acquired land, the reasons assigned being in the 
majority of cases that allotments had been provided voluntarily 
by landowners under private arrangements, or that no applica- 
tions or representations under the Act had been made to them. 
Four County Councils had also acquired land under the Acts of 
1887 and 1890 ; in only one parish by compulsory purchase, in 
one by purchase under agreement, and in six by hire under 
agreement ; the total area so acquired being eighty-one acre.s, 
and the number of tenants to whom allotments had been let 
seventy-six. In the case of three parishes, the County Councils 
had delegated their powers as regards the land acquired by them 
to the Rural Sanitary Authorities, who had let it to eighty-two 
tenants. The total acreage acquired under the provisions of the 
two Acts has been 1,207, and the total number of tenants to 
whom the land was let was 2,891. No return is given of the 
acreage or number of allotments acquired independently of the 
provisions of the Acts, so that the only evidence available for 
forming a judgment on the point is that given in Table I and 
in the text ; and there is no reason to suppose that the estimate 
we have given is at all excessive. 
There can at any rate be no doubt that there has been a 
great increase in the acquirement of allotments, directly or 
indirectly, under the influence of the Allotments Acts of 1887 
and 1890; and it is probable that the increase will continue 
for some time to come. Nor can there be any doubt that such 
allotments are a very great boon, especially to rural popula- 
tions. Indeed, the fact of the rapid increase in their number 
which the figures indicate, is of itself sufficient evidence of the 
appreciation of them by those whose position they are intended 
to improve. It is another matter, however, whether the san- 
guine anticipations of those who have so strongly urged the 
importance of providing by enactment facilities for the acquire- 
ment, not only of allotments but of small holdings, will be 
realised. As every year sees an increasing number of the rural 
populations flocking into our towns and cities, it is, perhaps, 
not unnatural that the urban populations should ask why those 
who have been born upon the land should not be able to earn a 
living upon it. It will probably be admitted, on all hands, that 
the extension of the garden allotments system can do little of 
itself to stem the exodus of the populations of our villages and 
their accumulation in our towns. But it seems to be assumed 
that if existing farmers cannot or will not employ more men, 
the proper remedy is to establish small farms throughout the 
country by the aid of public funds, to be taken up, either with 
a view to eventual ownership, or in some cases as tenants only, 
