UNIVERSITY^ OF CALIFORNIA.

\

ClaSS DOCUMENTS

DEPT

BOARD OP AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES.

REPORT

ON THE

DECLINE IN THE AGRICULTURAL POPULATION

OF

GREAT BRITAIN,

1881—1906.

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BOARD OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES.

REPORT

ON THE

DECLINE IN THE AGRICULTURAL POPULATION

OP

GREAT BRITAIN,

•

1881—1906.

lo fcotij ileuses of parliament fog (Command of 2fti

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE,
BY DARLING & SON, LTD., 34-40, BACON STREET, E.

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< nd 32, ABINGDOX STREET, WESTMINSTER, S.W. ;

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or E. PONSONBY, 116, GRAFTON STREET, DUBLIN.

1006.

[Cd. 3273.] PHcfl. 8r/,

DOCUMENTS
O£P".

GENEKA

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTORY REPORT :— PAGE.

Decrease in Agricultural Population 5

Circular of Inquiry 5

Census Returns of Persons engaged in Agriculture 7

Changes in Agricultural Conditions since 1870 9

Diminished Demand for Labour : Decline in Arable Land ;
Increase in Stock-keeping ; Machinery 11

Reduced Supply of Labour ; Cottages ; Lack of Incentive ; Desire
for Land 15

Allotments 16

Small Holdings 16

Difficulties in providing Small Holdings 19

MAP shewing Agricultural Divisions of Great Britain... to face p. 5

SUMMARY OF REPLIES TO QUESTIONS :—

1. Changes in Agricultural Population since 1901 ... „. 23

2. Immediate Causes of the Decline 31

3. Allotments and Small Holdings 61

4. Temporary and Migratory Labour 87

5. Alterations in Systems of Farming and Special Agricultural

Industries 100

APPENDIX A:—

Table I. Number of Persons Engaged in Agriculture in Great

Britain, 1881, 1891, and 1901 114

Table II. Arable Land and Permanent Pasture in Great Britain

1881, 1891 and 1901 118

Table III. Number of Cattle and Sheep in Great Britain, 1881,

1891 and 1901 122

Table IV. Number of Agricultural Holdings in Great Britain,

1885, 1895 and 1905 126

Table V. Percentage of Small Holdings, 1895 and 1905 ... 128

APPENDIX B :—

List of Agricultural Correspondents who have furnished Replies
to the Board's Inquiries 130

1500 Wt 22577 12/06 D & S 8 26725r

SHETLAND
ISLANDS

ORKNEY ISLANDS

GREAT BRITAIN

IN

AGRICULTURAL
DIVISIONS

\ V^-- J 7 °^ ^C\S -.^

V -r^LOOCtSTER (OXFORD^ t^i*

xrd,M«..J >a I rs v-*>\*Vjt

Ofdiumce. Survey, So

REPOKT,

To THE SECRETARY OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE
AND FISHERIES.

SIR,

THE reduction in the number of persons returned as Decrease o:
engaged in Agriculture in Great Britain has been one of the Agriculturj
most prominent features of the Census Returns for the past Population
50 years, and it has never been more apparent than in the
figures for 1901, when a decline of about 20 per cent, in the
number of agricultural labourers during the preceding decade
was indicated. The special circumstances existing at the time
when the Census of 1901 was taken probably tended to ex-
aggerate in some degree this apparent reduction, but when all
allowances are made the significance of the returns is suffi-
ciently evident. Much public attention has been and continues
to be aroused in the question of what is somewhat loosely
termed " Rural Depopulation," but during the long interval
which elapses between one Census and another no statistical
measure is available of the intensity of the movement. In
the absence of definite data there is obviously a risk that
observations made under exceptional conditions or over limited
areas may be put forward and accepted as characteristic of the
whole country. Generalisations in regard to British Agricul-
ture are peculiarly difficult, in view of <the wide diversity of
conditions prevalent in different counties, and any series of
observations can therefore have little validity unless they are
made on a uniform basis and at points which are distributed
with some geographical regularity.

The Board, in their staff of Agricultural Correspondents, Circular of
possess facilities for obtaining observations by well-qualified Enquiry,
observers, distributed in every county of Great Britain. It
appeared desirable, therefore, to take steps to elicit the views of
this body of competent observers with regard to the present
movement of the agricultural population and the causes
which affect it. With this object, the following circular letter
was issued to each of the Agricultural Correspondents of the
Board in March last : —

I am directed by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries to call your
attention to the accompanying statement showing the changes which are

6

recorded in the Census Returns as having occurred among the principal
classes engaged in Agriculture during the 20 years 1881-1901 in the
County of —

The Board desire to obtain the views of their Agricultural Corre-
spondents as to the various causes which have contributed to the
changes thus recorded.

In almost every County of Great Britain a reduction in the number
of persons who have returned themselves as engaged in Agriculture has
taken place during the last 20 years, and I am to ask you to be good
enough to favour the Board with your opinion, based on your know-
ledge of the facts in your own district, and on such reliable information
as you may be able to obtain, on the following points : —

1. Have the changes indicated by the Census Returns in 1901 con-

tinued in the same direction since that date V

2. What in your opinion are the immediate causes of the decline in

the Agricultural population, naming them in order of importance,
in your district V

3. Is there any difficulty in obtaining land either for Small Holdings

or Allotments, and if so has this difficulty contributed in any
degree to the decline in the Agricultural population ?

4. The Census figures record the population on the 1st of April.

Can you say whether the number of Labourers temporarily em-
ployed on the land at particular seasons, e.g., for corn harvest,
fruit-picking, hop- picking, &c , has declined to a greater or less
extent than the resident labourers during the past 10 and 20 years
respectively ?

5. To what extent have alterations in the system of farming in your

district aifected the demand for labour ? Has any particular agri-
cultural industry such as fruit-farming, vegetable-growing, poultry
rearing, &c., tended to check the decline in the agricultural
population V

These points are intended as suggestive only, and the Board will be
glad to receive the fullest details in connection with them and the
subject generally that you may be able to give.

Accompanying the circular was a statement giving each
Correspondent the Census figures for his particular county, as
shown in Table I. of Appendix A to this Report.

The total number of replies received was 248, and the names
and addresses of those who furnished them are given for refer-
ence in Appendix B. The Board are indebted to those
who rendered assistance for the care which they have
taken to furnish well-considered replies to the enquiries addressed
to them. In very many cases the replies have been prepared after
consultation with, or reference to, ia large number of persons able
to give special information throughout the county or district
in which the Correspondent resides. II has not been found
possible to print the whole of the replies in extenso, but they
have been carefully analysed and condensed in the summary
which follows this Report (pp. 23-112).

The replies have been summarised under each of the five
questions asked in the circular, and grouped in the divisions
which have for many years been adopted for the agricul-
tural returns. A sketch map showing these divisions is pre-
fixed to this Report.

In a few instances the figures extracted from the Census Census
Returns, and the changes which they indicated, did not appear Returns,
to agree with the experience of particular Correspondents, and
in one or two cases the accuracy of the returns was challenged.
It was not always remembered that the basis of the figures
being the description which each householder gives of himself
and the members of his household, there must of necessity be
some margin of error. More especially is this noticeable
in regard to the number of farmers and graziers returned,
which bears no relation to the number of persons occupying
agricultural land, but represents only such as described them-
selves as farmers or graziers on their Census schedules, by
reason of farming or grazing being their only, or principal,
source of livelihood.

Of the several classes of the agricultural population specially
referred to in these reports, the numbers returned in Great
Britain were, in the last three Census years,* as follows : —

Class.

1881.

1891.

1901.

Increase ( + ) or
Decrease ( — ).

1881-91.

1891-1901.

No.

No.

No.

No.

No.

Farmers and Graziers...

279,126

277,943

277,694

—1,183

—249

Farm Bailiffs — Foremen

22,895

21,453

27,317

—1,442

+5,864

Shepherds

33,125

31,686

35,022

—1,439

+3,336

Agricultural Labourers
— Farm Servants.

983,919

866,543

689,292

—117,376

—177,251

A reference to the local details given in Table I., will Farmers,
show that during the twenty years 1881 to 1901 farmers graziers,'
i bailiffs, &c.

* Certain changes in the classification adopted at different Censuses must
be borne in mind in comparing the returns. Thus, the class described as
"Farm Bailiffs" in 1881 and 1891 was described as "Farm Bailiffs-
Foremen" in 1901, and the class " Agricultural Labourers — Farm Servants

Cottagers," in 1881, was described as "Agricultural Labourers— Farm
Servants" in 1891 and 1901, while in the latter year the class was divided so
as to distinguish men in charge of horses and cattle respectively.

8

Continuance
of the
decline.

Casual
labourers

and graziers had decreased in forty counties and increased
in forty-eight counties. Farm bailiffs and foremen had in-
creased in fifty-six counties and decreased in thirty-one ; while
agricultural labourers had decreased in every county except
Anglesea and Flint. No very great significance is, per-
haps, to be attached, for the reason already given, to the
changes in the number of farmers or graziers, while the appa-
rent increase of " Farm bailiffs " in 1901 may be attributable
in some degree to the inclusion of "Foremen" with them. Some
increase of the farmer class in consequence of the splitting up
of large holdings into smaller is noted in Bedfordshire, Kent,
Surrey, East 'Sussex, Lincolnshire and Inverness, and the fact
that farms in many districts are stated to let more freely now
than in 1901 may have tended recently to increase the number of
farmers and diminish the number of farm bailiffs. On the other
hand, instances are given, as in Lincoln, the East Hiding,
(Brecon, and Aberdeen, of separate farms being grouped into a
single holding and bailiffs or foremen in such cases replacing
tenant farmers.

Opinions as to the continuance of the decline in agricultural
labourers since 1901 differ somewhat widely, and correspon-
dents in the same county sometimes express contrary views.
In one or two counties it seems to be thought that the rate of
decline has been accelerated, while in others, such as Middlesex
and Ayrshire, labourers are said to be more numerous than in
1901. On the whole, however, the tenour of the majority of the
reports indicates that since 1901 there has been some further
reduction in the number of men employed on farms, but that
the diminution is proceeding at a slower rate than during the
ten or twenty years preceding that date.

The total number of persons employed at one time or another
in agricultural labour is not represented by the Census returns
of those who so describe themselves. At the " busy times " of
the farm year — for the corn and hay harvests, for turnip
thinning and hoeing, for potato-lifting, for hop-picking, for
fruit-gathering, and the like — the permanent staff is inade-
quate, and was at one time very largely reinforced
by immigrants, of whom a considerable proportion would
not describe themselves as agricultural labourers. It will
be seen that the attention of the correspondents was
directed to the question of the extent to which such extraneous
help is now utilised. From almost every county the reply is
received that there is a greater reduction of casual than of per-
manent labour. The use of labour-saving machinery is ^ the
main cause assigned. One correspondent observes that "the
use of self-binders, &c., has practically done away with
at least three-fourths of the extra staff that used to foe required
for harvesting operations." It is noted in several counties

9

that the Irishmen who used to be regular visitants have
now almost entirely ceased to come, though on the other
hand in some counties, especially in Scotland, they still find
employment.

In a few counties a maintenance, or even an increase, of the
demand for casual labour is recorded as the result of the exten-
sion of fruit-growing, and the picking of green peas is also
specifically mentioned in one instance as giving additional em-
ployment for a short season. In the hop counties the annual
demand for " hoppers " — none of whom probably figure in the
agricultural section of the Census — continues, though the re-
duction in the area of hops by 20,000 acres within the past
twenty years must have reduced their numbers. On the whole
it seems evident that if the amount of casual labour employed
in various ways on the land could be calculated, it would be
found that it represented in the aggregate a substantial addition
to any estimate based on the Census returns, and that it has been
reduced proportionately to a greater extent even than the labour
of the resident agricultural class.

Whether we assume that the present rate of the decline in
agricultural labour is 10 or 20 per cent, per decennium, or, as is
perhaps probable, something between the two, it will be granted
that its continuance is a serious economic and social fact. The
monotonous repetition in tones of varying intensity of the same
story by successive Census returns has so familiarised the public
mind with the process that it has almost come to be accepted as a
natural and inevitable course of events. It is perhaps
desirable, therefore, to remember that the reductions of the past
20 or 30 years have an importance greater than those recorded
previously.

Prior to, say, 1870, there was in many country districts Thepositi
a superfluity of labour, and there is little doubt that a since 1870.
considerable proportion of the agricultural labourers re-
turned as such in the Census were only in partial em-
ployment. The elimination of these represented, therefore,
a less serious withdrawal of labour from the land than
the loss of an equal number at the present time, when
employment all the year round is more general. In
his report to the Labour Commission, Mr. W. C. Little
took the year 1867 as the starting point for his investigations,
and explained his reasons as follows : — " The period was a
' distinct epoch in the social and economic history of the rural
'population of this country. The enquiry (i.e., the Eoyal
* Commission on the employment of children, young persons
' and women in agriculture, appointed in 1867) followed very
' closely after the passing of the Union Chargeability Act of
' 1865, though too soon for that Act to have had much effect in

io

The position u remedying the evil results of ' close ' parishes. It was imnie-
since 1870. « diately succeeded by the Elementary Education Act of 1870,
" for which it undoubtedly paved the way. That Act for a
"short time powerfully affected the agricultural labourers'
" position by restricting juvenile labour and diminishing the
" aggregate amount of the family earnings." These changes
paved the way for the agitation of the early " seventies," when
for a time capital and labour on the farm organised their
forces and came into open, and in some districts bitter, conflict.
From this period dates a change in the relationship of
masters and men. Agricultural labour attained economic
freedom, and if it did not acquire at once quite the same degree
of mobility as industrial labour, it became, in the economic
sense, fluid. Henceforward the old familiar semi-patriarchial
relationship, under which the labourer was partly bullied and
partly petted, was replaced by a more commercial spirit, and
the tie between master and man became almost exclusively a
" cash nexus." The use of labour-saving machinery spread
from the pioneers to the main body of farmers, woman labour
was largely diminished, • child labour practically disappeared,
and a general levelling up of the standard of efficiency pressed
hardly upon the casual labourers and the " odd men " of the
villages.

At this time — in the " seventies '' — farming was prosperous,
the value of land was at its maximum (the assessment of
kk lands " under Schedule A. in Great Britain, which is now
£42,000,000, was then nearly £60,000,000), wheat sold at an
average never below 455. per quarter, and in the earlier years
of the decade ranged between 555. and 60s. But at the end
of the decade the storm burst, and from 1879 onwards British
agriculture entered upon a new era. Farmers in their struggle
with adversity naturally attempted to curtail their labour bill,
and became more exigent in their demands upon their men.
On both sides the old easy-going attitude disappeared. Masters
became more exacting, and men less amenable. Under these
circumstances it might have been expected that the differences
between capital and labour would have led to a renewal, with
even greater intensity, of the fight over wages which char-
acterised the early " seventies." This, however, has not been
the case. Small local contests there may have been, but,
generally speaking, there seems to have been on both sides a tacit
understanding that no substantial or violent change in the level
of farm wages was within the field of discussion. Wages have
of course fluctuated, though within narrow limits, and slowly
but steadily there has been all along a tendency in the direc-
tion of increase. It appears from a paper on Agricultural
Wages during the past 50 Years, read before the Royal Statis-
tical Society by Mr. Wilson Fox,* that the increase in total

* Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, Vol. LXVL, 1903.

11

earnings per week per man, which was 11*8 per cent, in
1871-81, was only 1'3 per cent, in 1881-91, and barely ex-
ceeded 5 per cent, in the decade preceding 1901. It would
appear therefore that the demand for farm labour has been
restricted as the supply has declined, and that something like
an equilibrium has been so far maintained. How far this will
continue, and what are the influences which are tending, or
may tend, to disturb it, is the question on which the reports now
presented may throw some light.

It will be observed that there is a very large degree of The causes
consonance in the varying tones of the reports. The causes of decline,
assigned naturally fall into two categories, viz. : —

(a) those which occasion a diminished demand; and
(&) those which account for a reduced supply.

Correspondents differ in being more impressed by one or the
other side of the question, and local conditions accentuate
particular impulses, but, broadly speaking, the main features
of the movement are very similar throughout the country.

Dealing first with the causes assigned for a smaller demand Diminished
for labour on the farms, the compulsion put upon farmers to demand,
reduce their expenditure by reason of low prices and diminished
capital is very commonly referred to. They have altered their
methods of farming so far as possible with the view of econo-
mising labour. The most important change, which is referred
to in the reports from practically every county from Cornwall
to Caithness, is the laying down of land to grass. The loss of
2,000,000 acres of arable land in Great Britain in the twenty
years 1881-1901 probably threw out of work from 60,000 to
80,000 labourers at least during that period.

It is clear, however, that the withdrawal of the plough from Arable land
an extent of land as large as Hampshire and Somerset and labour,
put together, has only partially accounted for the re-
duction of labour. Indeed, if the figures be examined in
local detail — as given for each county in Tables I. and II. — it
will be observed that the relation between the decrease of arable
land and the diminution of labourers varies greatly. This
may be illustrated graphically, as in the following diagram.
Taking the Census year 1871 as a basis of comparison, and
assuming that the returns for that year are represented by
100 in each case, the relative changes which have taken place
in the number of labourers and the acreage of arable land are
represented in percentages of the 1871 figures. Curves
similarly drawn have been added to show the changes in the
number of cattle and sheep respectively.

12

It will be seen that the thick black line representing the
number of labourers takes very much the same course, though
with somewhat deviating steps, in England, Wales and Scotland
respectively, ending in each case at a point which indicates a
reduction of about 35 per cent, from 1871. The heavy dotted
curve, representing arable land, shows no such uniformity.
In England it follows generally the same direction as the
labourers' curve, but at a distance which tends steadily to
increase ; in Wales the two curves almost coincide for the first
20 years, but part company somewhat violently in the last
decade. It is in Scotland, however, that the relative unim-
portance of the arable land curve as affecting the course of the
labourers' curve is chiefly demonstrated, for while the latter

PerCent

ENGLAND.

f&Cenf.

WALES.

/87I.

/S8/.

/89/.

/90/.

/87/.

/88/.

/89/.

/90/.

/40

/40

/30

•"-«

/JO

/ZO

•

/2O

xC^

//O
/ n/j

..--""

/ /O
/ nn

..

^'"

/

9O

^

^N^X

^^

\

9O

s

^z~~*
^*^

80

^v/ ~

~--..

80

^^v

7O

x

\

70

\

^

6O

N

60

Per Cent

SCOTLAND.

faCerf.

GREAT BRITAIN.

/87/.

/S8/.

/as/

I9OI.

J87/.

/8V.

/S9/.

/90/.

/40

J40

AJO

ISO

1

720

•

/ZO

f

/

I/O

•^ —

.

//O

,^'

^

/ oo

90

—^

i'

/OO
90

^^^^.

^x^

**"***•-»

^*

SO

^

V

80

SNN^

70

V^

— ^

70

^

V

GO

60

m

Labourers

C*///e -

takes what may be termed the normal course, the former shows
that the land under the plough in Scotland increased from 1871
to 1881, and only declined during the decade 1891-1901, when
the reduction of labourers somewhat slackened in speed.

13

The curves showing the changes in the number of cattle and stock-
sheep — which also have an influence on the demand for labour keeping.
— are also of interest. Here again the change in Scottish
agriculture, judged by these tests, has been much less than in
England and Wales. The increase of sheep in Wales is
noticeable, and the fact is referred to in many of the reports
as connected with the reduction of arable land and affecting
the demand for labour.

Even more suggestive are the divergences apparent in the Divisional
four agricultural divisions of England (see Map) as shown in differences,
the following diagram, which is prepared on the same basis as
that preceding: —

£as/ & North -ZasA

South-fat & £as/- Midland.

PerCent.

PerCent.

IB7/.

1881.

1891.

/90/.

1871.

/88I.

/89/.

/9O/.

140

/40

J30

..'*""'

/JO

/^ **

"•<*

/2O

/'

..••''

/2O

/

/ / 0

_..-•'

""

no

/

'•'

*S5

•x^

"""*•••-.

/ oo

s

^

^^.

90

1

^^=:

:^x-

90

"^^^^w N%

80

\

X

80

^<^

70

N^

70

\

'*'•

60

60

\

West- Midland & South- West.

North & North- West.

PerCent

ftrCenr.

1871.

I88/.

/89f.

I90/.

/87/.

1881

/89/.

1901.

14-0

*,

.

/40

/JO

/JO

/20

/

/20

•'''/^

1 1 O

/ ft fl

,•'

^

//O

•""'""/

/

^

90

^

^V

/ ^s

\

9O

^tx^

SO

x-xs

sT"^

~>.^

80

^^s^"**».,

*--M

70
60

x

X

7O
60

>,

X

Ar&ble L&nd Labourers

It is apparent from this brief survey of the figures that other other cause
and perhaps even more powerful influences have been affecting
agricultural labour than either the laying down of land to
grass or the quantity of stock kept in the country. There is

14

little doubt tha/t the saving of labour on the 15J million acres*
which in 1901 still remained under the plough was in the aggre-
gate greater during the 20 years than on the two million
acres laid down to grass. Many expedients, other than actu-
ally stopping the plough, were adopted to reduce the labour
bill. But while manual labour has no doubt been econo-
mised to some extent by curtailing some of the opera-
tions which require it, the main cause" of its reduction is un-
Machinery. doubtedly the extended use of labour-saving machinery. This
is referred to by the large majority of Correspondents in all
parts of the country. With the exception of the self-binding
harvester, which was introduced into this country in the
early " eighties," few machines for the performance of a
specific manual operation have perhaps been invented since 1881
(unless milking machines, shearing machines, and, perhaps,
potato diggers come within that category), but whereas 20 years
ago labour-saving machinery was fully employed by com-
paratively few, it has now become almost universal on all
holdings of sufficient size to make its use practicable. The
substitution of mechanical for horse or hand power for fixed
machinery, e.g., thrashing machines, chaif cutters, pumps, &c.,
has taken place largely, although it has made, comparatively
speaking, little progress for tractive purposes. It may, indeed,
be questioned if steam is so largely employed in the cultiva-
tion of the land as it was 20 years ago. But the displacement
of manual labour arising from the greatly extended use of drills,
horse-hoes, mowers, binders, manure distributors and the like
must have been in the aggregate very great, and probably to
this more than to any other single cause the reduced demand for
farm labourers may be attributed.

It must be remembered, however, that some of the altera-
tions in agricultural practice which have taken place during
the past two or three decades have tended to check tho
reduction of the demand for labour. The increase by nearly
half a million in the number of cows and heifers in-milk or
in-calf during the past 30 years is an inadequate measure of
the great extension of dairying, and particularly of milk-
selling, which has taken place. The introduction of the centri-
fugal separator in 1879 and the great improvement which
has been made in machinery and appliances for use
in dairying have facilitated manual operations and enhanced
the value of the produce, although not perhaps actually effect-
ing much saving in the amount of labour required, but the daily
milking of so many more cows must have had some influence
in maintaining the demand for labour. Although the serious
decline in the acreage under hops has, in certain districts,
restricted labour, there has been some compensating increase

In 1906 the area of arable land in Great Britain is 15,022,056 acres.

15

in demand by the extension of the cultivation of fruit and vege-
tables and " market-garden farming " generally.

Alongside the influences affecting demand, and more than Reduced
keeping pace with them, has been the increasing desire of the ?JP*ly of
labourers to leave the land. Most of the reports allude to this im-
pulse, and the varying explanations offered for its existence are
interesting. An absolute disinclination for work on the land
on any terms is frequently noted as a characteristic of the
labouring class, particularly of the younger generation, and
complaints that the methods of education in the rural ele-
mentary schools foster this distaste are made in many of the
reports. But while simple restlessness or mere rebellion
against the conditions of their environment may induce the
more active-minded youth of the countryside to seek fortune
elsewhere, it is admitted generally that the higher wages and
superior social advantages afforded by employment in other in-
dustries and the attractions of town life lead, in very many
cases, to a deliberate and calculated abandonment of rural
labour. Some correspondents allude to the fact that the
higher wages of the towns do not necessarily imply an
improved financial position, as the additional expense of
living more than counterbalances the additional income. This
is no doubt true, but it does not materially affect the position
so long as the men are actually attracted by the pros-
pect of " handling more money."

Among specific causes of discontent, a deficiency of adequate Cottages,
or satisfactory housing accommodation is reported from about
30 counties. The details where given may be referred to, but
speaking generally, there is evidence not only — or perhaps it
should be said not so much — of an actual scarcity of cottages,
though this is mentioned in some cases, as of a lack of cot-
tages which satisfy the more exigent requirements of the
labourers in these times, or comply with the demands of
vigilant sanitary authorities. As with every other class, the
rural labourers' standard of comfort has been raised, and they
are not now contented with the a ocommod action which pre-
vious generations placidly accepted. The recognition of this
fact merely .states the problem without helping to its solution,
which, as several correspondents admit, is extremely difficult,
its initial difficulty being that rural cottages are not let at
commercial rents. As a part of the labourer's wages is, in
effect, now given in house rent, so the provision of more ex-
pensive and commodious cottages may be regarded as equivalent
to a rise of wages, at any rate from the employer's point of view.

Many correspondents refer to the absence of an incentive Lack of
to remain on the land and of any reasonable prospect of incentive.
advancement in life, and it is mentioned that in some districts,
particularly in Scotland, many of the best men have been
attracted to the Colonies*, where their energies may find wider

16

scope and where the road to independence and a competency is
broader and more easy of access. It is indeed impossible not
to recognise that the ordinary career of the agricultural
labourer offers little scope for ambition. If he is intelligent
and quick-witted he may practically have become a master of
his craft by the time he is 21, but after rising to the position of
horse-keeper or shepherd, or perhaps foreman, there is little
further outlook and small hope of increased wages. It is not
surprising that in many cases he declines to settle down for life
in a calling which does not in the Ordinary course provide pos-
sibilities of advancement to an independent position.

Desire for Advancement to the man who lives by the land means in

land. the end the occupation or the ownership of land for himself,

and the presence or absence of a reasonable prospect of attain-
ing this goal must no doubt affect the willingness of young
and enterprising men to persevere in farm work. The recog-
nition of this fact led the Board to make specific enquiry as to
the existence of difficulty in obtaining land for allotments and
small holdings.

Allotments, So far as Allotments are concerned, there is a very general
consensus of opinion that requirements are as a rule well
satisfied. In not more than some half a dozen counties — differ-
ing as widely as Hertfordshire, the East Hiding, Denbigh and
Caithness — is a scarcity of available allotments mentioned.
From the large majority of counties it is reported that there
is no difficulty in obtaining all the allotments wanted, while
in many cases it is stated that the demand for them is less than
it used to be and that frequently they have been given up by
labourers who at one time held them. The opinion is expressed
by several correspondents that the attachment of a good
garden to a labourer's cottage is more desirable and more
highly appreciated by the labourer than an allotment which
may be at some distance from his home. The provision of an
adequate amount of garden ground attached to every labourer's
cottage is advocated by many correspondents.

Small On the subject of Small Holdings the reports are much

Holdings. more varied in tone, but they will be found to Contain, not only

a large amount of interesting local information, but in many

cases comments and suggestions which are well worth attention.

The term " Small Holding " receives a different interpre-
tation in different districts. In some instances it is used
almost as if it were synonymous with an allotment or with
occupations of not more than half a dozen acres. In other
cases it is extended so as to include what in many parts of
the country would be considered large farms. In Berwickshire,
it is reported "there is a great demand for holdings of 100 to
" 200 or 300 acres, such as a man and his family can work with-
« out much hired labour, and for these higher rents are offered

17

" than for larger holdings of the same quality." There is said,
in the same county, to be practically no demand for holdings
under 100 to 150 acres. On the other hand, in Shropshire hold-
ings of three or four acres of grass land are referred to as not
being sufficiently plentiful, and in Sussex holdings of five to ten
acres are said to be in request.

The definition of a small holding which is generally
accepted is such an area of land as is sufficient to employ
the whole labour of a man and his family and not enough
to necessitate the employment of hired labour. This may
be as little as five acres, or even less where intensive cul-
tivation or market gardening is practised (especially where
glass is used), while in grass or mixed farming from 40 to 60
acres may be required. The limits adopted in the Small Hold-
ings Act, viz., land which exceeds one acre and does not exceed
50 acres, may be accepted for present purposes, the more so as
statistics are available showing the number of holdings within
those limits. According to the returns of this Department for Size of
1905, the distribution of holdings in the four classes in which Holding
they are grouped for statistical purposes was as follows : —

—

England.

Wales.

Scotland.

Great
Britain.

Above 1 and not over 5 acres

81,232

10,342

18,685

110,259

„ 5 „ 50 „

166,622

31,671

34,673

232,966

„ 50 „ 300 „

109,498

18,008

23,055

150,561

„ 300 acres

14,792

408

2,718

17,918

Total

372,144

60,429

79,131

511,704

It must be remembered that in this classification of holdings
no account is taken of mountain and heath land used for
grazing, considerable tracts of which may be in many cases
attached to comparatively small farms.* If this were taken into

0 The extent of "rough grazings" and of cultivated land respectively is,
in 1906, as follows :—

—

England.

Wales.

Scotland.

Great
Britain.

Acres.

Acres.

Acre?.

Acres.

Mountain and heath land used
for grazing;
Area under crops and grass ...

2,370,691

24,600,574

1,296,442
2,793,142

9,095,471
4,873,039

12,762,604
32,266,755

25176

18

account, the number of larger farms would be somewhat in-
creased and that of the smaller farms proportionately reduced.
Bearing this qualification in mind, it is nevertheless interesting
to note the very large proportion which small holdings bear
to the total number. Reduced to percentages, the figures
above given compare as follows : —

|

England.

Wales.

Scotland.

Great
Britain.

Above 1 and not over 5 acres

. 21-s:>>

17-11 23-61

21-55

„ 5 „ 50 „

44-77

52-41 43-82

45-53

„ no „ 300 „

2942

29-80

29-14

29-42

., 300 acres

3'98

0-68

3-43

3-50

Total

100-00

100-00

100-00

100-00

It may be allowed that a considerable proportion, probably
the majority, of holdings of five acres and less are occupied
by persons whose principal avocation is not farming,* but even
if the whole of this category were ignored, the existence of
nearly a quarter of a million holdings of from five to 50 acres,
or little short of half the total number, provides ample evidence
that small holdings constitute a very important factor in the
utilisation of the land in Great Britain. Their comparative
prevalence in some counties and their scarcity in others appears
Local from Table Y. in the Appendix A., which shows for each

difference?. county the proportion of small holdings — distinguishing one
to five acres and five to 50 acres — to the total number. By
placing the figures for 1895 alongside those for 1905, the
changes which have ^occurred during the ten years are also
indicated. The counties are arranged according to their
relative proportion of small holdings of one to 50 acres in
1905, and it will be noted that in England the West Riding
stands highest with 76 per cent., and Cumberland lowest with
52 per cent. The range is still greater in Wales and Scotland,
but the extent of " rough grazings," not included in the farm
acreages, being much larger than in England the classification
is more seriously affected, and the number of holdings in each
group affords a proportionately less accurate indication of the
actual position.

Demand It is apparent from these statistics alone that as the supply

for Small of small holdings varies so the demand for them is likely to

Holdings. be very different in different counties. As a matter of fact the

reports are very diverse in their indications of a demand of this

* The occupier of a few acres of land attached to his residence, who is in
no sense n farmer or dependent upon the utilisation of the land at a profit,
is an inconvenient factor in these returns, and unfortunately theve is no
of the extent, of his disturbing influence,

19

nature, and the extent to which its non-satisfaction has affected
" rural depopulation." From about a score of counties, it is
reported that small holdings are little in request, or at any rate
that no specific instance of a desire to obtain a small holding has
come under the notice of the correspondent. It is possible, of
course, that an apparent absence of demand may be due,
to some extent at least, to the recognition of the
futility of asking for what is practically unobtainable, but at
the same time there is certainly some evidence of a disin-
clination among those who have been brought up on the land
to undertake the risks of farming. One or two instances are
given of the failure of small holdings where they have been
tried, as, for example, in Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire.
Mr. Carrington Smith (Staffordshire) gives a concrete instance
of personal failure. " Many good labourers," he writes, " do
" not make successful small holders. There is coming to me
" next week as a waggoner a man who worked for 12 years
" under the same master. With the money saved and a small
" legacy left to his wife he took a small holding, on which he
" lost what he had saved."

The majority of the correspondents, however, report that Deficient
there is a demand for small holdings, which is not satisfied for supply of
reasons which many of them specify. The belief that their S^fS
provision would tend to keep the population on the land is
expressed in many reports. One correspondent in the East Rid-
ing puts the case succinctly: — "It is absolutely necessary that
" those employed in farm work shall have a prospect of rising
" by their own thrift and perseverance ; for this purpose there
" should be cottages without land for the older people, cottages
" with gardens and allotments, and also small holdings from
" 10 to 50 acres." 'Some correspondents express doubts as to
whether an increase of the rural population would in all cases
result from the cutting up of farms. A Forfarshire correspond-
ent, for instance, observes that a 400-acre farm in his district
employs a farmer, his grieve, and nine others, most of whom are
householders. He adds: — "If this same farm were broken up
" into seven small holdings, each tenant would do the work of
k his 50 or 60 acre farm himself, or with the assistance of his
' family, and I hold that fewer families would be employed the
' one way than the other. At the same time, the advantages
' in favour of the small holding system are so enormous that
' the other side of the question should not be looked at, especi-
' ally as there are few districts in Scotland so happily situated as
' this in the way of accommodation for farm servants on the
' large farm."

While the advantages of small holdings as an incentive Difficulties,
to the younger and more desirable class of men to remain on
the land are very generally recognised, the difficulties of pro-
viding them are forcibly referred to by many correspondents.
Various obstacles are mentioned, but that which may be said

25176 B 2

20

to overshadow all the rest is the cost of equipment. The
difficulty, as one report says, u is not in obtaining land, but in
" the cost of putting up the requisite buildings," or in another
phrase, " the essential difficulty is the cost of erecting buildings
" meeting the modern requirements of sanitary authorities and
" the prospect of insufficient return in the shape of rent." The
greatly increased outlay on the house alone, as compared with
former times, is commented on.

Allusion is made by several correspondents to the fact thai
the rents of small holdings are high in comparison with those
of medium or large farms, and the cost of equipment is referred
to as one of the causes. The capital outlay involved necessarily
works out at a higher sum per acre on a small area than on a
large one, and except by the provision of cheaper capital or by
the erection of a less durable house and buildings in the one
case than in the other, it is difficult to see how this inequality
can be avoided. The higher rents of small holdings are also
sometimes attributable, as is frequently pointed out, to other
causes, such as proximity to markets, advantages of soil and
situation, as well as to the fact that the smaller the amount of
working capital required, the wider is tlio area of competition
for farms.

The suggestion that money should be advanced at a low
rate of interest and by the assistance of the State for the equip-
ment of small holdings or for the building of cottages is made
by several correspondents. The present facilities for obtaining
advances under the Lands Improvement and Settled Land Acts
are specially mentioned in one instance (by Mr. Squarey), who
attributes the improvement of cottage accommodation in rural
districts during the last thirty years largely to the use which
has been made of those statutes.

The conditions which conduce to the success of small hold-
ings, -as well also as those which lead to their failure, are indi-
cated in many of the reports. Instances of failure, both of old-
established small holdings and of some which have been re-
cently laid out, may be found. An example of the former is
given by the late Mr. Punchard, in Westmorland, where hold-
ings of 15 to 20 acres were formerly held in connection with
village industries. " With the loss of these industries, and
therewith the loss of casual employment in the way of carting,
&c., the small holder had no opportunity of augmenting his
income, whilst the profits from the land itself also dwindled
so that they were not sufficient by themselves to maintain the
man and his family." Analogous cases may be found where
small holdings were originally held by miners in a district
where the mines have now ceased to be worked. Such
examples would appear to emphasise the necessity, to which
frequent reference is made, of insuring, in any attempt to estab-
lish small holdings, that the local conditions afford a reasonable
change of success. It appears generally that where small

21

holdings have survived, or have been successfully established,
some local condition exists — whether of a rich or easily worked
soil, easy accessibility to good markets, opportunities for sup-
plementary employment or other like advantage — which seems,
under present circumstances, essential to their maintenance.

Casual reference has previously been made to the effect which Conclusion
the extension of fruit-growing has had on the demand for
labour, and in concluding this report I would direct attention to
the summaries of replies to the fifth question' in the Board's
circular of enquiry (pp. 100-112). The general tenour of the
replies on other points is not optimistic, and the picture drawn
of the state of agriculture is, on the whole, somewhat gloomy.
If encouragement for the future is to found anywhere, I am
inclined to think that it is in the evidence furnished of the
extent to which farmers have adapted themselves to the times
by taking up the cultivation of fruit and vegetables, the rearing
of poultry, and other industries of a so-called subsidiary
character. The extension of dairy-farming, by which the home
producers have met the ever-increasing requirements for milk,
is perhaps the most striking example of their enterprise, but not
only for the sake of retaining labour on the land, but also in
the interests of agriculture generally, the evidence of the atten-
tion given to what used to be thought " small things " may
be regarded as one of the hopeful facts which the present
enquiry has elicited.

I have the honour to be, Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

E. H. HEW.

September 10, 1906.

23

SUMMARY OF REPLIES TO QUESTIONS,

1. Have the changes indicated by the Census
Returns in 1901 continued in the same direction
since that date ?

ENGLAND.

DIVISION I.

(a.) Counties of Bedford, Huntingdon, Cambridge, Suffolk, Essex,
Hertford, Middlesex and London.

BEDFORD. — There is stated to have been scarcely any altera-
tion since 1901. A tendency to subdivide holdings in the
neighbourhood of Biggleswade is mentioned.

HUNTINGDON. — The agricultural population is now believed
to be stationary, or possibly on the increase. There has been an
increase of wages combined with shorter hours, and there is
less competition for country workers in other industries.

CAMBRIDGE. — In a few villages the decrease continues, But
not to the same extent as formerly. In others there is a slight
tendency in the opposite direction.

Do. (IvSLE OF ELY). — Practically no difference is observed.

SUFFOLK. — It is thought that such little change as has taken
place has been in the same direction as prior to 1901.

ESSEX. — In the main it is considered that there has been
no marked decrease in population since 1901, but Mr. Glenny
and Mr. Croxan are of opinion that the decline continues.

HERTFORD. — It is thought that the decline continues.

MIDDLESEX. — Mr. De Salis writes : " For the part of -the
county that I know best I am satisfied thai; there has been no
decrease in the number of persons working on the land."

(b.) Counties of Norfolk, Lincoln and Yorks (East Riding).

NORFOLK. — The changes since 1901 have been very slight.
Mr. Tallent states that there has lately been a small increase
in the supply of labour.

f24

Changes in LINCOLN. — The general impression is that the decline in
Agricultural population is continuing, but not at the same rate as up to
Population. 19Q1. Mr. Frankish thinks that labourers may have increased
since 1901.

Major Browne does not consider that the increase in farmers
applies in the neighbourhood of Louth, but states that in the
marsh district, near towns, small freeholds may have increased
owing to the facility of disposing of milk and vegetables.

YORK (EAST RIDING). — The conditions appear to be un-
changed.

DIVISION II.
(a.) Counties of Kent, Surrey, Sussex, J3erks and Hants.

KENT. — It is considered that the changes indicated in 1901
still continue, except in Sheppey.

SURREY. — The number of ki farmers and graziers " is thought
to be increasing. Good farms are easily let and in a few cases
large holdings are being split up. There is an influx of farmers
from Scotland, the North of England, Devon and Somerset;
these are attracted by the lower rents (considering the nearness
of London) and the greater freedom of cultivation.

SUSSEX. — The decrease in agricultural labourers is believed
to be still continuing, though, perhaps, not at the same rate
as prior to 1901. Referring to the increase in the number of
farmers Mr. Ingram writes : " Small holdings have increased
and are increasing every year, owing to properfies being split
up for sale and large farms being divided into smaller lots for
letting. A considerable number of the tenants of these hold-
ings may be called farmers, but a very large number of owners
and also some of the occupiers of such Holdings, although they
may describe themselves as ' farmers,' really do not attempt
to make a living off the land. Men from the large towns, such
as Brighton, Eastbourne, Hastings, &c., have come out into
the country .and are using the land more for residential pur-
poses and pleasure than for profit." Mr. H. W. Drewitt writes :
" The numFer of farmers attending the markets of West Sussex
has certainly declined, and has more than once been the sub-
ject of remarks to me ; probably the increase is in East Sussex,
which has a much larger number of small farms. It is be-
coming more and more the custom in West Sussex for farmers
to hold several fanns at the same time; in this parish thirty
years ago there were thirteen farmers, — there are now three
on the same area of land. Probably the number of farmers
has increased slightly since 1901, as there are more farms let
now than there were then."

BERKSHIRE. — Mr. Lousley thinks that labour is more
plentiful, but Mr. Adams thinks the decline has continued.

25

HAMPSHIRE. — -Mr. Judd considers that the number of persons Change

employed on the land has not diminished since 1901. Mr. -AgricuH

Perkins thinks that the changes indicated in 1901 have con- p°Pula1
tinned.

(b.) Counties of Nottingham, Leicester, Rutland, Northampton,
Buckingham^ Oxford and Warwick.

NOTTINGHAM. — On the whole the changes are considered to
be still continuing in the same direction.

LEICESTER. — The general opinion is that little change has
taken place since 1901. Mr. Longwill observes that labour of
an inferior kind is more plentiful, but good all-round men
are difficult to find.

RUTLAND. — Mr. Wortley forwards expressions of opinion
from several farmers; the general impression is that the
decline is less marked, and may have entirely stopped.
According to one statement farms have been more easily let
and labour has been more plentiful during the last five or six
years.

NORTHAMPTON. — Mr. Rooke considers that the changes
indicated in 1901 still continue, but Mr. Dickson is of a
different opinion, since, trade having been less brisk, there
has been less temptation to leave the land and seek employ-
ment in other industries. In the Soke of Peterborough the
population is thought to have decreased very little since 1901.

BUCKINGHAM. — It is believed that the decline has continued
since 1901, Mr. Treadwell considers to a greater extent, but
Mr. Denchfield thinks it has been less marked during the last
two years.

OXFORD. — On the whole it is thought that circumstances are
about the same as in 1901, but Mr. Ashhurst thinks the decline
has certainly continued.

WARWICK. — The changes indicated in 1901 continue, though
not perhaps to the same extent; young smart men still leave
country pursuits.

DIVISION III.

(a.) Counties of Salop, Worcester, Gloucester, Wiltshire, Mon-
mouth and Hereford.

SALOP. — If the decline in population has continued at all
since 1901 it is less marked, and there may even have been a
movement in the opposite direction. Mr. Thursfield writes:
" The cottage labourers have not in my opinion decreased.
More cottages have been built, and are all filled by farm
labourers ; farmers, however, now keep fewer indoor workmen
and employ less casual labour."

26

Changes in WORCESTER. — It is thought that the changes indicated in
Agricultural 1901 continue, though, probably, in a less degree.
Population.

GLOUCESTER. — The decline in labourers is thought to be con-
tinuing to a slight extent. The increase of farmers indicated
in 1901 may now be less marked, as there is a tendency to
amalgamate holdings with a view to saving expense.

WILTSHIRE. — While in some .cases the contrary opinion is
expressed, it is generally believed 'that the decline in population
has not continued since 1901. Mr. Squarey writes: " I am led
to believe that the exodus of the farm labourer has very
largely been arrested. This is due, no doubt, to an increase of
wages, particularly those of young men from 15 up to about
22, and to easier conditions of service generally."

MONMOUTII. — The decline in population is believed to be still
continuing, though, perhaps, in a less degree, as local industrial
occupations — coal, iron and tin works — have been somewhat
depressed during the last four or five years.

HEREFORD. — Mr. Wootton thinks the decrease has continued
to a greater extent since 1901. Mr. Turner, however, con-
siders that labour is now a little more plentiful, and Mr. Biley
also thinks that the bottom of the decline has been reached.

(b.) Counties of Somerset, Dorset, Derou and Cornwall.

SOMERSET. — It is thought that the changes indicated in 1901
may have received a check. Mr. Parsons says : "In this
district there is a better supply of labourers than there has
been for several years, but they are not of such good quality."

DORSET. — The general opinion is that little or no change has
taken place since 1901.

DEVON. — The decline is believed to be still continuing.
Mr. Norman remarks, however, that the complaint of scarcity
of labour was very much greater two or three years ago than
it is at present. Mr. Gag says : " I see no real check to the
decline in the population."

CORNWALL. — In three cases the reply is that the decline has
continued since 1901, but in the Wadebridge and Launceston
districts the contrary opinion is expressed.

DIVISION IV.

(a.) Counties of Northumberland, Durham, York (North Ridiny)
and York (West Riding).

NORTHUMBERLAND. — The general opinion expressed is that
the changes indicated have continued since 1901, though not
to the same extent.

27

DURHAM. — The decline in population is thought on the whole Changes ii
to have been less marked since 1901. Mr. Kent, however, Agricultur
observes that there are no signs of any arrest or reaction. Populatioi

YORK (NORTH BIDING). — The changes indicated in 1901 are
believed to have continued, and Mr. Walton states that an
unprecedented number in that district are emigrating in
families or individually.

YORK (WEST RIDING). — The decline prior to 1901 is, appar-
ently, still continuing, but not'to a marked extent. There is
an increasing tendency on the part of farmers to engage boys
in preference to older men.

(b.) Counties of Cumberland, Westmorland, Lancashire,
Cheshire, Derby and Stafford.

CUMBERLAND. — The number of labourers is believed to have
still further declined since 1901, though the movement is now
possibly less marked.

LANCASHIRE. — The changes indicated by the last census are
believed to have continued to a less extent -since 1901, as the
character of the farming has not altered much since that
date.

CHESHIRE. — The decline is believed to have continued, but
only to a slight degree.

DERBY. — While it is thought that no material change may
have taken place since 1901, the tendencies then observed are
believed to be still continuing.

STAFFORD. — The changes indicated in 1901 are believed to
have continued. Mr. Wood, however, does not think there has
been much alteration in the numbers working on the land.

WALES.

DIVISION V.

ANGLESEY. — Mr. Roberts thinks that no change has taken
place other than that which has been gradually going on of
late years.

BRECON. — It is thought that the changes indicated in 1901
have since continued.

CARDIGAN. — The decline in population is believed to have
gone on since 1901.

28

Changes in CARMARTHEN. — The decline in farm servants is believed to
Agricultural be continuing. Mr. Drummond, however, considers the agri-
on' cultural population to be stationary.

CARNARVON. — The decline has gone on since 1901, but con-
ditions are believed to have become more settled.

DENBIGH. — Mr. J. Roberts replies : " Yes." Mr. Gomer
Roberts says : " I do not think that the increase of farmers
and graziers has continued at the same rate during the last
five years."

GLAMORGAN. — Mr. Forrest thinks that if any change has
taken place since 1901 it has been in the nature of a further
decrease. Another correspondent states that farmers have
great difficulty in securing really useful hands.

MERIONETH. — No great change is indicated since 1901.

MONTGOMERY. — It is believed that the changes indicated con-
tinue in the same direction, but are not so rapid or certain as
they were.

PEMBROKE. — Mr. Richards considers that a census taken now
in his immediate district (Hundred of Roose) would show an
increase of the agricultural labourers, and states that for the
last year or so there has been an ample supply of workmen.
Mr. Yorke thinks the decline in labourers has continued since
1901.

RADNOR. — It is believed that the next census will reveal a
further falling off in the number of persons employed in
agriculture.

SCOTLAND.

DIVISION VI.

Counties of Aberdeen, Banff, Berwick, Clackmannan, Elgin, Fife,
Forfar, Haddinyton, Kincardine, Kinross, LinLithgow, Mid-
lothian, Nairn, Peebles, Perth, Roxburgh and Selkirk.

ABERDEEN. — The changes indicated in 1901 are believed to
have continued.

BANFF. — The decline is believed to have continued, but
Mr. Livingstone thinks it has been less pronounced since 1901.

BERWICK. — Dr. Shirra Gibb considers tliat agricultural
labourers have decreased since 1901 at about the same rate
as previously.

ELGIN. — The changes have apparently continued.

29

FIFE. — It is considered that there has been little change in Changes in
the circumstances since 1901, with the exception that there Agricultural
may be a slight decrease in the number of labourers. Population.

FORFAR. — Mr. Duncan and Mr. Hume consider that the
changes shown in 1901 have continued, but Mr. Kydd does
not consider that there has been any material change in the
population of his district.

HADDINGTON. — Mr. Shields is inclined to think that while
the changes have continued since 1901, the decrease in labourers
has not gone on in anything like the same ratio as prior to
that year. Mr. Hope also considers that the decrease is now
less marked.

KINCARDINE. — The changes indicated in 1901 are believed to
have continued.

KINROSS. — Mr.. Tod answers that the changes have continued.

MIDLOTHIAN. — It is thought that there has been little, if
any, change since 1901.

PEEBLES. — Mr. Ritchie considers that the changes have gone
on at a more rapid rate. Mr. Constable on the other hand
thinks that a census at the present time would show little
change from the last.

PERTH. — The changes are believed to have continued in the
same direction, in Mr. Craig's view to a considerably less
extent than during the twenty years previous to 1901, but
according to Mr. Campbell, without abatement.

ROXBURGH. — The changes indicated in 1901 are believed to
have continued, but Mr. Smith thinks, to a lessened degree.
He says : " I have no figures to prove this, but draw the con-
clusion from the supply of labour in the hiring markets, which,
during the last two years especially, has been more plentiful."

SELKIRK. — There appears to be no change in the tendency
to migrate from the land.

DIVISION VII.

Counties of Argyll* Ayr, Bute, Caithness, Dumbarton, Dumfries,
Inverness, Kirkcudbright, Lanark, Orkney, Renfreiv, Pass
and Cromariy, Shetland, Stir Una, Sutherland and Wigtown.

ARGYLL. — There is general agreement that the changes
indicated in 1901 have continued in very much the same way.
Mr. Martin (Portaskaig), however, states : " So far as this
district is concerned there has been practically no change
in the numbers employed in agriculture since the date of the
Census Returns in 1901, or in the previous twenty-five years."

30

Changes in AYR. — Mr. Sloan considers that farmers and labourers have
Agricultural continued to decrease since 1901. Mr. Hannah, however, thinks
Population. ^ie cnange nas not continued in the same direction. Farm

labourers have, he states, been much more plentiful during

the last two years.

CAITHNESS. — It is thought there has been a continuation of
the changes indicated in 1901.

DUMFRIES. — Dr. Gillespie thinks the changes have continued
since the last census. Mr. Waugh holds a similar view as
regards the district of Upper Annandale. Mr. Moffat is of the
contrary opinion and thinks that, miners' wages having become
lower, there is less inducement to leave the country.

INVERNESS. — The tendencies revealed in 1901 are apparently
still manifest. Mr. Cran states that grazing farmers, shepherds,
labourers and farm servants have decreased and that arable
farmers have not increased. Mr. Cameron writes : " In the
last five years there has been a considerable increase in the
number of crofters or small farmers in Skye owing to the action
of the Congested Districts Board in purchasing land which was
formerly let as large farms, and subdividing this into smaller
holdings, and also in advancing money to new crofters and
enabling them to take and stock lands which were formerly let
as sheep farms." Mr. Wilson thinks that since 1901 the agri-
cultural population of North Hist, Harris and Barra must have
increased by the wise action of the proprietors of North Uist
and Harris, and the Congested Districts Board in Barra, in en-
couraging people to settle on the land ; but in South Uist, which
is at this moment the scene of a severe agrarian agitation, the
agricultural population is steadily decreasing as the landless
cottars cannot obtain small holdings.

KIRKCUDBRIGHT. — The changes have continued, but perhaps
to a less marked degree.

LANARK. — Mr. Gilchrist is of opinion that the changes in-
dicated in 1901 have continued. Mr. Scott states that no change
has taken place in the condition of the agricultural population
since 1901, and Mr. Speir also thinks that if any change has
occurred it has been very slight.

ORKNEY.— Mr. McLennan, observing that the decrease in
agricultural labourers took place between 1881 and 1891 and
that there was an increase during the succeeding ten years,
states that as far as he can judge the increase has not been
maintained during the past three or four years.

RENFREW. — Mr. Pollock's reply is that -the changes have
continued in the same direction since the last census.

Ross AND CROMARTY, — The tendency is stated to be still in
the same direction.

31

SHETLAND. — Mr. Anderson is of opinion that the changes Changes in
indicated in 1901 have not tended in the same direction since Agricultural
that time. Population.

STIRLING. — The changes have continued in the same direction
since 1901. Mr. Edmond states that the tendency is not so
great as in the previous twenty years, but Mr. Drysdale
observes that in his district it has been accentuated.

WIGTOWN. — Mr. McMaster thinks that 'the changes have not
continued, but that the population in his district has remained
about the same since 1901. In the Rhins or Western Division
Mr. Ralston thinks there has been little, if any, decrease since
1901, cottages being fully as numerous and seemingly quite
as well occupied.

2. What in your opinion are the immediate causes
of the decline in the Agricultural population, naming:
them in order of importance, in your district ?

ENGLAND.

DIVISION I.

(a.) Counties of Bedford, Huntingdon, Cambridge, Suffolk', Essc.v,
Hertford, Middlesex and London.

BEDFORD. — The decline in the agricultural population is
attributed to the following causes: —

(1) The use of labour-saving machinery.

(2) Insufficient wages to attract the energetic;

higher wages on railwaj^s.

(3) Lack of suitable cottages.

HUNTINGDON. — The low prices of agricultural produce have
caused a very large area of the strong land to be put into grass.
Then there has been a great demand in other industries for
young and capable country workers. Up to 1885 a considerable
number of labourers were employed in the winter months in
draining the heavy clay lands, but when wheat got so low
in price this was stopped and land tumbled down to grass.
The brickfields round Peterborough have taken a lot of the
young men; they can earn more money, are nearer the town,
and get a half -holiday on Saturday. The system of education,
it is maintained, causes a -dislike for agriculture and a desire,
lor the excitements of town life.

32

CAMBRIDGE. — The low price of agricultural produce lias pre-
vented farmers from paying the higher wages which town
industries offer and has, indeed, compelled them to curtail
their labour bill, and to rely more upon machinery. There
is also an increasing desire for independence on the part of
the labourers, and a disinclination to follow the plough. The
system of education is thought to increase the dissatisfaction
with country life. Mr. Jenyns considers that a better supply
of cottages with suitable gardens would tend to keep the
labourers on the land, but adds that the country can never
compete with the towns either in • the excitements afforded
or the rate of wages offered.

Do. (ISLE OF ELY). — There is little evidence of decline in
this part of Cambridge. Land has not gone out of cultivation
and the great proportion is arable. Wheat and corn crops have
diminished, but potatoes, celery and market produce, for which
the land is well adapted and which require a good deal of
manual labour, are largely grown, and wages have increased to
a marked degree.

SUFFOLK. — The low price of produce, especially grain, has
led to a rougher system of farming and the laying of land to
grass. The higher wages and superior attractions of town
industries also draw men from the country.

ESSEX. — Unremunerative com land has gone out of cultiva-
tion and been laid down to pasture, therefore fewer hands are
required. Wages are higher and hours shorter in urban than
in rural districts, and farmers cannot afford to give higher
wages. Less labour is in fact employed than the land requires
for efficient cultivation. Town life presents -many other attrac-
tions. The system of education makes young men dissatisfied
with their surroundings, and in many cases trains them for
town occupations rather than for country life. In some districts
there is a lack of cottages, or the existing ones are in bad
condition or without gardens. In some localities cottages would
be built but for the stringency of the building laws. Mr. Eankin
remarks that many farm hands live rent and rate free, while
these two expenses often exceed 12s. per week in the town;
consequently rural labourers may be better off with 20s. a week
than they would be in the towns with 30s.

HERTFORD. — Adverse conditions have compelled tenants
to give up their holdings or to employ less labour. Higher
wages are given in the towns ; farm work is considered
monotonous, and holds out little encouragement for thrift
or hope of improvement even to an energetic man.
In many parts it is said to be impossible to get
a man, and more especially his wife, to accept a situation
which does not afford a certain amount of social life. The
education of their children makes illiterate parents so proud
of them that they put them to some trade or occupation other
than farming. There is a lack of good cottages near to the

33

farms ; labourers have had to walk two or three miles night Causes of
and morning to and from their work, but this has been greatly Decline,
remedied of late, many of the larger landlords having built
very good and conveniently situated cottages.

MIDDLESEX AND LONDON. — Building operations have en-
croached on the agricultural land to a great extent, especially
in the vicinity of London. Thus Mr. Lobjoit writes : " In
1881 there were hundreds of acres of land in Fulham culti-
vated by market gardeners, numbers of labourers being
engaged trenching all the winter, and many more being
employed during the summer at the various operations. There
is probably not an acre now left in cultivation. My own firm
held land in Putney and Wandsworth for many years, ulti-
mately being ' built out ' in 1904." Chiswick, again, twenty
years ago was an important market gardening centre, now
there is scarcely any land left under cultivation, and the same
process of displacement is taking place in other parishes.
Other causes noted as tending to diminish the employment of
labourers are — (1) A decrease in the area of grass reserved
for hay ; (2) The keeping of fewer cows near London by dairy-
men.

On the other hand a good deal of land formerly farmed has
passed into the hands of market gardeners with the consequence
of a considerable increase in the number of labourers employed.
The same correspondent writes : " In one parish a small grass
farm employing very little labour was converted into a market
garden and now provides work for nearly 100 hands. In
Hampton and Feltham there has been during the last few
years quite a settlement of cultivators under glass." Mr. De
Salis also says : " More and more land is being turned from
farms into market gardens, and more labour is employed."

(b.) Counties of Norfolk, Lincoln and York (East Riding).

NORFOLK. — Owing to the low price of corn, land has been
laid down to grass. Farmers are unable to pay a sufficiently
high rate of wages to retain their men on the land in face of
the natural disposition to leave for the towns where apparently
higher wages and other attractions are offered.

LINCOLN. — Through want of capital due to the unprofitable
nature of agriculture, farmers are unable to pay the high wages
required and are compelled to dispense with all the labour
possible; the land is less highly cultivated, only what is abso-
lutely necessary is done, draining and ditching are neglected,
arable land is laid to grass, or clover is left down for two or
three years instead of one year; more machinery also is used.
Separate farms are grouped into a single holding. Thus, Mr.
West writes : "I can count within a radius of two miles
12 farmhouses, each of which 25 years ago contained a resi-
dent tenant and family, and all of which now are in the hands

25176 C

34

of foremen or ordinary labourers." Major Browne writes:
" I know cases of men farming several farms until they hold
an area up to 6»000 or 7,000 acres. Generally they get the
farms at a lower rent than the landlord will take from a resi-
dent tenant." Sometimes, on the other hand, large farms are
divided up; the occupiers then dispense with outside help,
doing most of the work themselves with the help of their
families.

On the labourers' part, education creates a dissatisfaction
with the dulness and monotony of farm work, with the low
wages, and the lack of prospect. There is a desire to rise to
a better position, and the many openings in towns afford the
opportunity of doing so. Higher wages, shorter hours, better
opportunities of recreation, and the other attractions of town
life draw young men away from the country. Some emigrate
to Canada. Major Browne writes : " A boy is kept at school
until 13 'or 14 years of age; he gets accustomed to a warm
room and dry feet; when he comes out he does not like a
cold north-easter with sleet and rain, mud over his boot-tops,
and carrying out turnips to sheep."

YORK (EAST BIDING). — Mr. Pearson, referring more particu-
larly to the district bordering on the North Riding, writes :
kt Most farmers now hire lads by the year, with a foreman who
is in many cases too young for the post. The lads ,grow up
careless and discontented, leaving farm work as soon as they
can qualify for some other vocation. Seven have joined the
Police Force lately from this part and a fair number have
gone to Canada." The system of education lacks practical
instruction and encouragement in farm work. There has also
been, until recently, an active demand for labour in towns,
and the means of communication have made migration easy.
There is a lack of prospect for the labourer and in some parts
more cottages are wanted.

A tendency is noted to work farms more on the Colonial
system, i.e., by using more machinery and taking extra farms,
which are placed in charge of foremen.

DIVISION II.
(a.) Counties of Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Berks and Han1$.

KENT. — A large amount of arable land has been laid down
to grass, requiring less labour; the decrease of the hop area
also has materially lessened the demand in hop-growing
districts. Labour-saving machinery, such as steam ploughs,
self-binders, &c., is now in general use. Mr. Arthur Finn
writes : "A large number of men who were labourers are now
small farmers. The holdings in many parishes are divided up.
The large farmers used to keep a staff of men all the year
round : but the small tenant of to-day does nearly all his own

35

work and very seldom requires or employs extra labour. Boys Causes of
are not encouraged at school to take an interest in agriculture. Decline.
Education makes them ambitious, and on leaving they try for
places in towns in preference to farm work.

SURREY. — The decline in agricultural labourers is due to the
conversion of arable to grass land. Mr. Whitley writes : " In
my opinion this is being overdone, as so much hay is now made
that it is no longer profitable ; efficient men are difficult to get
at hay time, the available extra labour being of a low order.
The right policy would appear to be to keep farms in such a
state that only a slight increase in labour would be required
in hay time ; the horse and manual labour then required could
be employed in arable cultivation at other times. The difficulty
of casual labour is forcing farmers to take this view, and must
help to stop the continual sowing-down process."

SUSSEX. — Owing to depression a great deal of arable land
has been laid to grass ; some of the stiff clay land and land in
out-of-the-way parts or on the hills has been allowed to go out
of cultivation, and is used for sporting purposes or as the
roughest pasture, employing practically no labour; farmers
have been compelled to cut down expenses and have commenced
with the heaviest item — the labour bill. Many small farms
are now occupied by men who do most of the work themselves.
Contributory causes of a different nature noticed are — The rais-
ing of the school-age limit to 14 years and the unsuitable
character of the education afforded, the attraction of the towns,
the better wages of railway or industrial 'occupations, and the
dulness of rural life. Objection is taken to Sunday labour, and
there is a general desire for self -improvement. On this point
Mr. Haviland writes : " Our labourers, during their working
years, are, generally speaking, well-paid and well-housed, and
their standard of living compares very well with that of a
labourer in any other trade, but there is little or no chance of
advancement. As a rule all labourers, good, bad, or indifferent,
are paid much the same daily wage, and an agricultural labour-
er's life leads to nothing more remunerative." In several
districts a lack of suitable cottages is noted. Mr. Grant writes :
" Cottages of any kind are scarce and dear." Mr. Chandler
writes : " In Wivelsfield, a purely agricultural district, the
farm labourer cannot get a cottage under 4,9. Qd. per week."
Mr. Brand states that new cottages cost 25 per cent, more than
they did forty years ago.

The increase in bailiffs and foremen is thought to be partly
due to farms remaining unlet, and partly to the fact that Sussex
is becoming increasingly a residential district, many people
keeping small estates of 100 or 200 acres for pleasure.

BERKSHIRE. — The low price of corn has caused land to be laid
to grass, and less labour is required. Advancing wages have
compelled farmers to rely more on machinery. The education

25176 0 2

36

•

Causes of given is unsuitable as a preparation for work on the land, and
Decline. an occupation is sought for in the towns, where there is more
amusement and excitement.

HAMPSHIRE. — Large tracts have been laid to grass, employ-
ing but little labour. Mr. Perkins refers to the following
among other causes of the decline : The attraction of city life,
the continuous and increasing demand of urban industries,
and the better wages and other enjoyments offered ; the want
of decent cottages. The rural homes, he remarks, are utterly
insufficient in number and inefficient in character;
until a cottage collapses or is condemned it is never
empty. Young men and women wait until the chance of
a vacant cottage occurs before getting married. Complaints
about want of repair or insufficient accommodation seldom
reach the owner. Mr. Perkins thinks that if the number of
cottages in rural Hampshire were increased by 20 per cent,
during the next ten years there would scarcely be one vacant.
At least half require structural alterations and additions, and
5 per cent, ought to be condemned as unfit for habitation. The
difficulty is aggravated by the letting of cottages to " week-
enders," or to people who come to reside in the country, and
are willing to pay a good deal more than the labourer can
afford. A further demand is created by the servants of large
householders who come to reside in the country. The system
of education attempts too much and arouses ambitions which
only townward migration seems to satisfy. Country life is com-
plained of as dull and wanting in attractions and amusements.

(b.) Counties of Nottingham, Leicester, Rutland, Northampton,
Buckingham, Oxford and Warwick.

NOTTINGHAM.- — Owing <o the low price of wheat a lot of the
strong clay land has betn laid to grass; on good loams and
easily worked corn lands there is still a good demand for labour.
Farmers have been compelled, through lack of means, to cut
down expenses to the lowest point. Mr. Walker writes:
" Nothing like the same amount of labour is expended in
keeping up the hedges, gates and fences, and the general good
appearance of the farms, neither is the same amount of labour
put into the land as formerly." Town life offers the labourer
greater freedom and many attractions. The wages of industrial
occupations are higher than farmers can afford to pay, though
the difference is more apparent than real when the country
labourer's house, garden, &c., are taken into account. Edu-
cation is making the rising generation feel that they are
too good for farm work and more fitted for the towns; they
evince a dislike to engage themselves as yearly farm servants.
Mr. Smith, however, states that the Notts Education Com-
mittee have given instructions for holidays to be arranged at
convenient times so that boys can find agricultural employ-
ment such as turnip singling and potato picking; this, he
thinks, will accustom them to work on the land.

37

LEICESTER. — Mr. Bassett writes : " The low price of produce
has changed the character of many occupations, much land
has been laid down to grass and less labour is required. Young
men flock to the towns, which offer higher wages and better
opportunities of self improvement and advancement." Mr.
Longwill states that in some parts there is a want of good
cottages.

RUTLAND. — The low price of agricultural produce has made
it more difficult to pay and employ labour; arable land has
been converted to pasture. The prospect of higher wages has
attracted the population to the towns, while the system of edu-
cation also has caused discontent with present rural conditions.

NORTHAMPTON. — The depletion of farmers' resources, due to
low prices of produce and higher wages, has caused arable land
to be laid down to pasture and has led to the use of labour-saving
machinery. The attractions of town life, the higher wages of
industrial occupations, the Saturday half-holiday, and absence
of Sunday work are inducements to leave the country. Mr.
Rooke observes : " Ironstone digging and brickmaking are im-
portant industries in North Northamptonshire, giving ample
employment to strong and able labourers, who can earn higher
wages than at agricultural work, while the more intelligent
often find remunerative engagements on the railways which
abound in the county. "

BUCKINGHAM. — Owing to the low price of produce farmers
cannot afford to employ the number of men that they once did.
They are obliged to cut down expenses, and only the labour that
is actually necessary is employed; Town employment offers
higher wages, absence of Sunday work, and other attractions.
Mr. Tread well writes : " Our boys and girls are taught every-
thing but what they should be to keep them in the country.
As soon as they have left school the boys think that they can
do better in the towns as clerks or porters, or something which
does not, as they think, want much laborious work, and that
they get better pay than farmers can give them ; the girls have
an idea too that farm work is harder than town work, where
they get higher wages and more time out."

OXFORD. — In consequence of low prices farmers have cut
down expenses as much as possible, and labour on an arable
farm being generally the heaviest item, machinery has come
more into use, or land has been laid to grass, in either case the
demand for labour being lessened. Also there is not the same
trouble taken to keep farms in that trim order which was aimed
at when farming was more profitable. The system of education
is thought to create a distaste for agricultural pursuits, and a
preference is evinced for town life, where higher wages may
be obtained. There is a need for better houses at moderate
rents.

38

WARWICK. — Owing to the small returns from land many
acres have been put to pasture or are neglected. Mr. Graves
writes : " In my immediate neighbourhood there are six farms
comprising 790 acres on which only four labourers are regularly
employed." Mr. Sale writes : " Farmers do with as few men
as possible. Many north country farmers have settled here,
and having large families do a great deal of the work them-
selves. There is also a want of better and conveniently-situated
cottages on many of our farms, and this often prevents men
from remaining on the land." Mr. Lane writes : ' ' The ten-
dency amongst farmers is to reduce the wages bill by every
possible means and to live like labourers themselves." The
higher wages obtainable and the greater variety in life offered
have attracted many to the towns, and increased educational
facilities have contributed to this result.

DIVISION III.

(a.) Counties of Salop, Worcester, Gloucester, Wilts, Monmouth

and Hereford.

SALOP. — Farmers' shortness of capital has led to the laying
down of arable land to grass, and consequently to the
employment of fewer hands. Old and dilapidated cottages
have been allowed to decay or have been pulled down, and few
new ones have been built, as they do not afford an adequate
return for the outlay. This cause is assigned in the Chirbury
and Ellesmere districts. Mr. Thursfield, however, snys : "I do
not recognise the decline in my district. The houses and
cottages are as fully occupied as formerly, and more are pro-
vided." Another alleged cause of the decline is the prospect
of higher wages and the other allurements incident to town life.

WORCESTER. — Mr. Wheeler gives the following reasons for
the decline : —

(a) The unprofitable nature of farming has led to the cutting
down of labour as much as possible ; farmers have no money
to employ men in the winter, consequently labourers not in
regular work are apt to drift away.

(b) The old custom of lodging young hands in the farmhouses
has largely died out, and boys of the age of 17 to 20 having
often no comfortable home get discontented and drift off to the
towns in the hope of higher wages.

(c) "There is to some extent a lack of free cottages (i.e.,
cottages where the occupier is not bound to work for one
employer), but this is not universal. " I often come across very
fair cottages uninhabited and being allowed to fall to ruin,
when a little outlay would make them better than many that
are occupied in the towns. Free cottages are always more
sought after than tied cottages, but on the other hand it _is
absolutely necessary for farmers to have some men bound to

39

work for them, e.g., their stock men and waggoners." Mr.
Wheeler considers that the only remedy for the decline lies
in the paying of higher wages to the skilled men and in giving
them a chance to rise in the world, 'but cannot see how the
general run of wages can be raised until farming becomes more
profitable.

GLOUCESTER. — -The laying-down or " falling "-down of the
heavy wheat-growing lands into pasture, and the7 greatly in-
creased use of machinery on light and level lands have made
a great deal of labour superfluous. The straitened circum-
stances of farmers, due to low prices, prevent the proper culti-
vation of the land, and labour is the dearest article and the
one soonest dispensed with. Small farmers now employ little
labour, their sons doing much of the work.

WILTSHIRE. — The low price of produce, the high cost of
labour, and the advent of machinery have led to diminished
employment. At the same time better education has caused a
disinclination for the manual labour of the farm, milking and
Sunday work being particularly objected to. The attractions
of town life, the higher wages of industrial and business occu-
pations, and the Saturday half-holiday, combined with in-
creased travelling facilities, have contributed to the rural
decline. Mr. Stevens states that bad cottage accommodation
has also been a great factor, but Mr. Squarey writes : " I do not
think that the character of the housing of the agricultural
labourers, except in specially unfortunate and rare cases, has
influenced their migration."

MONMOUTH. — More and more land is laid to grass, as corn
does not pay at present prices. The young men are attracted to
the mining industries in South Wales by the prospect of higher
wages; nearly all the labourers left on the farms are either
old or middle-aged men, or boys fresh from school. Mr.
Williams writes : " Formerly the chief part of the work was
done by men boarded in the farmhouses ; now it is almost im-
possible to get men indoors on any terms at all. Fifty years
ago a good man could be hired for a year at from seven to
ten pounds. Such a man now, if obtainable, can get from
twenty-eight to thirty pounds a year. The old men are dying
out and the boys are increasingly difficult to get, so much so
that a scheme has been arranged for bringing boys from Lon-
don, fresh from school, into farmhouses ; this has been attended
with some success."

Another important cause of the decline is the absence of
cottages which will compare with the new houses provided in
industrial districts. Mr. Williams observes : " Men will not
now live in the hovels in which their fathers brought up
families; these are gradually being removed, and few new
cottages are being built, so that there is a positive scarcity. I
could count up perhaps twenty of these hovels which have gone

40

Causes of down within iny recollection in this district, and could count
Decline. on the fingers of one hand all that have been built. Landlords
are naturally reluctant to build in the face of the indefinite
future of landowning generally." Commenting on the increase
in shepherds, Mr. Wrigley writes : " The land that is laid to
grass is not good enough to support cattle, and the stock now
carried is tending more and more towards long-tailed sheep.
From my own experience I should state that although there
are now more sheep in Monmouth, their class is deteriorating."

HEREFORD. — Owing to the fall in prices tillage land has
been laid to grass, and farmers not being so well oft'
farm the land more carelessly and with less labour. Mr.
R/iley remarks: ''The hedges have far less spent on them,
spudding thistles, digging docks, &c., are more or less aban-
doned in pastures; everything seems to be done in a rougher
and readier way. Hoeing is reduced to a minimum,
and cultivation is certainly not so thorough as it used to be.
Farmers are unable to give such high wages as are offered
in the towns, and though the men are often worse off in the
towns, the sound of the high gross wage tempts them. The
whole tenour of modern life affects the agricultural labourer
as it does other people — more amusements, better clothes,
travelling facilities, and the desire to see the world. The
younger labourers have little knowledge of farm work and
less skill, because the bulk of them seem to take 110 interest in
it, it is only drudgery to them. If at school they were taught
that manual labour directed with intelligence is equal to any
work in an office or any amount of book knowledge, they
might not despise it so much." Mr. Wbotton attributes the
decline to the impossibility of obtaining small farms, or even
cottages except attached to particular farms, and to the lack
of opportunity for the labourer to improve his condition. The
system of education, also, creates a preference for a non-
agricultural occupation, and all the smarter boys leave the
country ; it is thought that quite as much has been lost in the
quality as in the amount of labour.

The increase in farmers and decrease in foremen is attributed
by Mr. Eiley to the fact that there is a better demand for farms
and less tendency for several to be let to one tenant.

(b.) Counties of Somerset, Dorset, Decon and Cornwall.

SOMERSET. — The laying-down of land to grass and the use of
machinery have lessened the demand for labour. In other
ways the wages bill is kept as low as possible. Mr. Gibbons
writes : " Only what is imperative is done, and our land is
really being reduced to a prairie. Scarcely anything is now
done to improve it ; very little drainage is carried on ; the use of
lime has practically ceased ; compost heaps are given up as so
much labour is required on them ; only the best and light lands
are cultivated." He illustrates the altered circumstances of

41

in the district by the case of a farm of 400 acres on Causes of
which the same amount of wheat is grown now as in 1866; Decline.
the difference in the value of the crop, however, is over £500.
"Add to this," he says, " the lessened value of barley, wool
and sheep, and the 40 per cent, increase in wages, and the
deficiency is tremendous. The rent of the farm in 1866 was
£600, but it was cheaper then at that sum than it is to-day
at £100." With their present education boys do not care for
farm work, but prefer to go to the towns and mining districts,
where they get higher wages and more holidays and amuse-
ments. Sunday work is very much objected to.

As regards the decrease in farmers it is stated that farms
have been left in the owners' hands or taken over by adjoining
tenants.

DORSET. — The decline is due to the reduction of the area
under tillage, the increased use of improved machinery, and '
the endeavour to cut down the outlay on labour in every
possible direction. There is a tendency to subdivide large
holdings owing to tenants' lack of capital; the small farmers
employ far fewer men, doing much of the work themselves with
the help of their sons. In many of the villages there is a lack
of suitable cottages ; those in outlying districts are being pulled
down, as labourers will not live in out-of-the-way places. Mr.
Duke writes : " On estates in my management, which are typical
of the county, we have very few vacant cottages, though probably
they are less overcrowded. At any rate there is no room here-
abouts in the country districts for more inhabitants without
building, and I doubt if private individuals will be found to
embark in building cottages to let them at the low rates prevail-
ing." The system of education has caused a lack of interest in
agriculture, and there are easy means of communication with
the towns, where higher wages and other attractions are
offered.

DEVON. — The low price of corn has sent land out of culti-
vation, and owing to lack of means farmers cannot afford to
keep so many men or give them such high wages as they can
get in towns. No prospect is held out to the labourer to attain
a better position ; in some cases there is a lack of comfortable
dwellings. The system of education is deemed unsuitable, and
town life, with its absence of Sunday work and opportunities
of enjoyment, exercises a great attraction.

CORNWALL. — Owing to the low price of cereals a great extent
of arable land has been laid down to pasture ; this together with
the increased use of improved machinery has done away with
the necessity for a great deal of labour. With a higher rate of
wages and less means to pay farmers take every opportunity
to reduce the outlay on this item. On the part of the labourer
other causes have operated. His education is not directed
towards rural pursuits, to which, on the contrary, there is

42

Causes of increasing objection on account of the long hours and the small
clme- opportunities for leisure. Employment in the towns, mines,
and factories is better paid and, though the cost of living may
be higher, town life presents many attractions in comparison
with the rural districts. Good cottages are wanted, but the
stringency of the byelaws tends to prevent more being built.
Better openings for labour exist in Canada, the United
States, and elsewhere, and many young men have been induced
to emigrate by friends who have done well there in mining and
farming.

DIVISION IY.

(a.) Counties of Northumberland, Durham, York (North Riding)
and York (West Riding).

NORTHUMBERLAND. — Owing to the low price of corn tillage
land has been laid to grass, and consequently less labour is re-
quired. Mr. Nichol writes : " Several farms in this neighbour-
hood which used to keep seven or eight pairs of horses working
now have none, and instead of upwards of twenty hands now em-
ploy a couple of men." At the same time wages have increased so
that farmers cannot afford to employ the same amount of labour
as formerly. Mr. Nichol adds that in his case wages have
increased 20 per cent, in the last fifteen years. More and better
machinery is now used. Again, the present system of education
does not fit the rural population for work as farm labourers,
who are attracted to urban districts by the prospect of higher
wages and other advantages. The absorption of land for build-
ing also displaces agriculture; this process, it is stated, is
going on in the whole of the Tyne Valley west of Newcastle
and east of Hexham.

DURHAM. — There is a lessened demand for labour owing to
the laying of land to grass, the increased use of machinery, and
the general endeavour to economise in view of the low price
of produce and the high rate of wages. Many men now taking
farms have large families and are able to do without hired
labour. On other farms, where eight or ten men used to be
kept, only a shepherd and perhaps a boy are now employed.
Mr. Kent writes : " Less time is spent in tilling and cleaning1
the land, and a small dressing of artificial manure takes the
place of a more thorough cultivation and is found cheaper than
a heavy labour bill." In some districts there is a want of good
houses. The character of the elementary education unfits boys
for work on the land ; they are attracted to the towns, iron works,
and coal mines, thinking to improve their conditions of life ;
the facility with which this better-paid employment can be
obtained keeps agricultural wages in Durham at a very high
level.

YORK (NORTH RIDING). — Owing to smallness of profits and,
amongst other things, the burden of heavy rating, farmers have

43

been compelled to economise in their outlay on labour. The
custom of boarding single men in the farmhouses and the diffi-
culties which married labourers experience in obtaining a
settlement on the land appear to have contributed to the decline ;
this is referred to more fully under Question III. (see p. 73).

YORK (WEST RIDING). — The low price of farm produce com-
bined with advancing wages has made it necessary for farmers
to employ the least possible amount of labour. Repairs and
improvements are greatly neglected, and the productiveness of
the land is in consequence impaired. Strong arable land which
under the plough employed more labour than the lighter lan'd,
has been laid down to grass. Machinery also is more exten-
sively used. On the other hand the dulness of country life and
the necessity for the agriculturist to work seven days a week
have caused many to seek employment in the towns, where
shorter hours, higher wages, and more leisure and amusements
can be obtained.

(b.) Counties of Cumberland, Westmorland, Lancashire, Cheshire,
Derby and Stafford.

CUMBERLAND. — The chief cause of the decline has been the
conversion of arable land into pasture with a view to reducing
the labour bill. Mr. Dobson writes : " Beyond oats and turnips,
arable cultivation has sunk to a minimum hereabouts. As much
land is kept in grass as is possible, and with the aid of larger
quantities of cake for feeding, as well as of slag and kainit
for top-dressing grass, cattle and sheep are reared with the
minimum of ploughed land. While considerable areas of oats
and turnips are grown this is accomplished with much less
hired labour, in many cases the farmer's family themselves
working a considerable-sized farm. Corn stubble used to be
ploughed repeatedly in preparation for roots ; this is now done
almost entirely by ' spring-tooth ' cultivators, thus economising
team la,bour." In other ways, also, labour is dispensed with
by the use of improved machinery. Again, the higher rate of
wages offered in towns, quarries, mines, iron works, &c., to-
gether with shorter hours, Saturday half -holiday, and absence
of Sunday work, induce the stronger class of labourers to leave
the farms, while the opportunities in the Colonies, particularly
Canada, attract some of the best men. Old cottages are in
many cases allowed to decay, and the increased cost of building
and possibly also the requirements of the present building bye-
laws are a hindrance to the erection of new ones.

WESTMORLAND. — Mr. Punchard attributes the decrease in the
number of occupiers of land to the giving up of accommodation
fields formerly let to professional men and tradesmen, and to
the tendency to abolish small farms. He writes : " The reduc-
tion in the number of agricultural labourers and farm servants
is attributable to the smaller demand for them, arising chiefly

44

from the rise iii wages 011 the one hand and the diminished
return from the cultivation of land on the other. Less land is
cultivated than formerly, and the farmer has been compelled
to reduce his labour bill. The lower range of prices of all kinds
of produce, coupled with the increase of local rates, have made
the profits from farming so small that the labour bill has had
to be cut down and machinery and mechanical implements sub-
stituted. The decay of the village industries has also resulted
in there being fewer chances for the agricultural labourer to
find employment when his assistance on the farms was not re-
quired." Higher wages in the towns, together with shorter
hours, and more amusements have also attracted men from the
rural districts.

LANCASHIRE. — The principal causes enumerated are as fol-
lows : —

(1) The inability of many farmers, owing to the depressed
state of agriculture, to employ as many men as they would like
to do, or to pay sufficiently high wages.

(2) The laying of arable land to grass, due to the same cause.

(3) The greater use made of up-to-date labour-saving
machinery.

(4) The growing distaste for the work of an agricultural
labourer on the part of the now better educated children of
the labouring class.

(5) The inducement to go to the towns for the sake of the
higher wages, the shorter hours, Saturday afternoon holiday,
and better means of recreation and education.

(0) In some parishes, the scarcity of cottages.

(7) The taking of agricultural land for building purposes.

(8) Emigration.

On the last point Mr. Nuttall writes : "The extremely favour-
able offers made by our Colonies, particularly Canada, whose
agents are constantly pointing out the advantages of absolute
security for the expenditure of money and labour by an easy
and cheap system of purchase, are attracting some of our best
and youngest men."

CHESHIRE. — Through the unprofitableness of agriculture
farmers have been forced to reduce the number of labourers
employed to the lowest possible point; work on the farm is
now done in a more rough and ready way ; the substitution of
machinery and the putting of tillage land to pasture have also
lessened the number of men required. The social attractions
of the towns, the better opportunities of advancement, and the
higher wages of industrial occupations cause many of the best
men to leave the country. The extension of the residential
area has had an indirect as well as a direct effect on the
numbers engaged in agriculture, by creating a demand for
gardeners, grooms, &c.

45

DERBY. — Mr. Waite writes that a majority of farmers now
live, work, and dress like labourers, and are either barely
holding their own or slowly losing their capital. Corn growing
does not pay, but is only practised for the sake of the straw
and as a change crop for roots. Farms are smaller, so that there
are more farmers, but they dispense with or employ fewer
regular labourers, doing as much as they can and leaving the
rest undone, to the detriment of the land; drains are unattended
to, fences are dying and being replaced by barbed wire. At
the same time cheap newspapers and education have taught the
labourers to try to earn a living with more personal liberty;
they are dissatisfied with the Sunday labour, the absence of
Saturday half-holiday, and the relatively long hours of farm
work.

STAFFORD. — In the first place less labour is now required
owing to the laying of land to grass and the use of improved
machinery ; secondly, a great proportion of tenant farmers
have come from the better class of farm labourers and do most
of the work with their own families. On this point Mr. Car-
rington Smith writes : " Many members of the families of
dairy farmers do not find their way into the classes named in
the schedule. As a matter of fact, sons and daughters of men
classed as farmers and graziers are often actually doing the
work of farm servants."

Again, owing to low prices and consequent lack of means
only such work as is absolutely necessary is done, the rest is
left undone. The attractions of the towns and the prospect of
higher wages are an additional cause of the migration.

WALES.

DIVISION V.

ANGLESEY. — Mr. Nicholls Jones observes that a large number
of holdings have been turned into grazing farms, the tenants
having ceased to occupy them as homesteads, and the land in
many instances being let off by auction to the highest bidder;
in consequence of this, there is a decline in the number of
labourers employed. The decline is further attributed to the
low price of stock and grain and the high price of labour, owing
to the demand at the slate quarries in Carnarvonshire, on the
railways, and in the South Wales coal mines. The system of
education is also thought to create a distaste for agriculture.

BRECON. — Mr. Price attributes the decline in the agricultural
population to the following causes: —

(a) A reduction in the demand for labour due to the laying
of arable land to pasture and the great extension of sheep
farming, as well as to the use pf improved machinery.

46

(b) The want of proper cottages on the larger farms in the
country districts. " Hundreds have been allowed to tumble
down in this and adjoining counties, the result being the
removal of the people to the villages and towns, where they lose
their interest in country life."

(c) The consolidation of small farms. ' The buildings on
most of these combined farms have fallen down, with the ex-
ception of one homestead, whereas many years ago they were
all inhabited and families were brought up, most of whom were
engaged as servants and labourers in the immediate neigh-
bourhood of their homes."

(d) The prosperous condition of the mining districts, the
better wages, and the shorter hours of work.

CARDIGAN. — Mr. Jones assigns the following reasons for the
decline : —

(1) The unprofitableness of farming is causing many farmers
and farmers' sons to seek some other occupation.

(2) Landlords have a tendency to group their farms to save
the cost of erecting new buildings.

(3) Every farmer endeavours to obtain modern machinery
for cultivating and harvesting, and in other ways to curtail the
labour bill as much as possible.

(4) Many labourers are attracted to the coal mines which are
within 50 to 60 miles; there they receive better wages than
the agriculturist can afford to pay, and at the same time have
more leisure. Educational facilities have encouraged this in-
clination for work in the towns.

Mr. Edwards, also, attributes the decline to the high wages
and greater freedom of the industrial centres of South Wales,
which are within easy distance of the county.

CARMARTHEN. — The low price of agricultural produce, the
increase of grazing, and especially sheep farming, have
lessened the demand for labour. The high rate of wages in
adjacent industrial districts with the shorter hours and greater
means of amusement have attracted some of the best of the
rural population. The system of education is thought to be
at fault. On this point Mr. Eees writes : " How rare are the
schools in which nature study has been patiently and regularly
taught to children. But I am glad to say that there are signs
of improvement in this direction. Thus, hitherto no taste for
the natural open-air life of the farm has been impressed on the
plastic mind of the child. The boys prefer to take up teaching
work at the school or to become shop assistants, railway clerks,
or porters, &c. The girls will become milliners, post-office
clerks, dressmakers, — anything almost in preference to domestic
service,"

47

CARNARVON. — The increase in shepherds is an indication of
the change taking place throughout the county in the exten-
sion of sheep rearing. This extension is due to the fall in the
price of cereals and has lessened the demand for labour. At
the same time a preference is shown by the labourers for work
on railways, in quarries, &c., where better wages are paid.
There is a difficulty in getting suitable cottages at a rent that
a man getting 18s. per week can afford to pay.

DENBIGH. — The causes assigned for the decline are: —

(1) Lack of cottage accommodation and neglect of existing
cottages.

(2) Conversion of arable land to pasture, and increase of
stock rearing.

(3) Poorer land on hillsides going out of cultivation.

(4) More extensive use of machinery.

(5) The lack of small holdings.

(6) The game laws.

Mr. John Roberts says : " The insecurity of tenure prevents
any tenant employing his capital in developing his farm, thus
diminishing the need of labour. Many examples of this have
happened in recent years."

GLAMORGAN. — Mr. Forrest considers that the main cause of
the decline is dissatisfaction with rural conditions as compared
with the attractions of town life and its apparent increase in
wages. He thinks that education in village schools is faulty
in that so little instruction is given in the way of technical
agricultural and allied subjects. The low price of produce,
also, has led to the laying down of a large area of permanent
pasture, which requires less labour. The increased cost of labour
compels many farmers to leave work that they ought to do,
such as repairing, laying, and trimming hedges, banking, &c. ;
the result in many cases being an increasingly heavy expen-
diture on the part of the landlord. The increase of machinery
has enabled many large farmers to get on with less labour,
and even the provision of up-to-date buildings tends to lessen
the amount of labour required to work a farm. It is also
observed that able men can earn 6s. to 7s. per day at the
collieries — a wage which the farmer is, of course, unable to pay.

MERIONETH. — Mr. Wynne attributes the diminution in
labourers to the social attractions of the towns, the shorter
hours of employment, and the apparently higher wages.

MONTGOMERY. — The decrease in farmers and graziers may be
partly accounted for by the displacement of occupiers from a
considerable area drawn upon by the Liverpool Corporation for
the purpose of water supply; partly also it is due to the
merging together of holdings, but it is stated that little of
Jias taken place recently.

48

PEMBROKE. — Commenting on the increase of farmers and
graziers between 1881 and 1901, Mr. Richards observes :
" The Census figures indicate that many farmers holding two or
more farms in 1881 had given up one or more of their plurality
of holdings in 1901, which I do not think can have been the
case generally, at least in my own neighbourhood, and to the
extent represented, as it would indicate a considerable addition
to the class of farmers and graziers from outside their ranks.
I would rather suggest that the increa'se is due to many who
occupied small holdings and at the same time worked as agri-
cultural labourers, having classed themselves as labourers in
1881 and as farmers and graziers in 1901." The reason he
assigns is that up to the eighties very many men who occupied
a few acres of land in the northern part of the county and
were casual agricultural labourers as well, used to come down
to the southern and earlier districts for the corn harvest. With
the advent of improved machinery farmers did not require this
extra help a.nd the men ceased to offer themselves, and making
their own holdings their chief source of livelihood now class
themselves as farmers.

Such a difference in classification would also be a partial
explanation of the decline in labourers. Other causes assigned
are: —

(1) The higher wages in the mining and manufacturing
districts of Glamorganshire, together with railway facilities for
travelling thither and the readiness with which employment
can be obtained.

(2) The introduction of improved machinery for mowing,
reaping, binding, threshing, and other operations.

(3) Insufficient cottage accommodation.

(4) The system of education, which fits the children rather
for work as clerks, shop assistants, &c.

(5) The reduction of profits in farming.

On the third point Mr. Richards writes : " The old cottages
are tumbling down without being replaced. Within a radius
of two miles from here and about as many from the nearest
villages, there are farms of about 300 acres with only one
cottage on each, when there ought to be three or four; and
nine farms of from 100 to 200 acres each on which there is
no cottage at all. In my own small parish of 1,450 acres, eleven
cottages have fallen into ruins within the last forty years, and
only four new ones have been built, and a barn converted into
a cottage."

RADNOR. — Mr. Lewis considers that the decline is principally
due to the merging of farms. He writes : " Landlords repeat-
edly, when a small farm becomes vacant, rent it with the
adjoining farm, although there are numerous applicants, the
reason being that they save the upkeep of house and buildings,

49

which, in many instances, are allowed to go to ruin. This is
especially true when estates are entailed. There are instances
where the same man has three farms where formerly three
families were nursed, now one man manages or mismanages
the lot; there are numbers of instances of two farms
joined together, in the majority of the cases to the detri-
ment of the farms and the neighbourhood; fewer men are
employed than would be if each farm were a separate
holding; the result is fences are neglected, tillage land
is not cleaned properly, and the whole of the land suffers."
He urges the necessity of altering the law of entail and
preventing men who have only a life interest in the estate
managing it for their own personal benefit. " One large estate
in this county," he writes, " is in liquidation and has been for
years, and, of course, in the interest of the creditors very little
capital is expended on it ; if the tenant farmers had an oppor-
tunity of becoming the owners on such estates, it would be for
the benefit of all concerned."

SCOTLAND.

DIVISION VI.

Counties of Aberdeen, Banff, Berwick, Clackmannan, Elgin, Fife,
Forfar, Haddington, Kincardine, Kinross, Linlithgoiv, Mid-
lothian, Nairn, Peebles, Perth, Roxburgh and Selkirk.

ABERDEEN*. — The decline is attributed to the following
causes : —

(1) The introduction and improvement of machinery.

(2) The absorption of smaller holdings.

(3) Emigration, especially to Canada.

(4) The attractions of town life and its educational
advantages.

(5) The existence of other more attractive fields of employ-
ment.

BANFF. — The principal reason of the decline is stated to be
the attraction of the towns compared with the quietness of
country life. Mr. Bruce observes : " We require a good
reading-room with a well-conducted place of amusement in
every other village, which could be made almost self-sup-
porting." Mr. Livingstone states that many have left his
district owing to the non-renewal of houses and cottages
on crofts. These are joined on to adjacent holdings, the excuse
being that the owners cannot afford to put up houses for the
rent they get.

35176 D

50

BERWICK. — Dr. Shirra Gibb writes : " The outstanding cause
of the decline is the low price of tillage farm produce ; less
land is now under corn and root crops and fewer hands are
required. The unremunerative results of cropping in high-
lying districts and on retentive clays, where excessive labour
is required, have prevented the farmer from being able to paj^
wages sufficiently high to compete, in the opinion of the
labourer, with the higher wages and greater social inducements
of town life or the prospects afforded by emigration. The
education given in rural schools does not tend to encourage the
desire for a country life, or especially fit the scholars for it."

Mr. Somervail considers that the exodus from the rural
districts occasioned a scarcity of labour and raised wages to a
rate which farmers were unable to pay in view of the low price
of farm produce. They have, therefore, reduced the number
of their hands, and keep some of their fields longer in grass,
and also employ casual Irish labourers.

ELGIN. — The decline is held to be due to the general advance
of education and to the higher wages and social attractions of
town life.

FIFE. — The causes of the decline are stated to be —

(1) The low price of agricultural produce, combined with
higher wages, occasioning the laying of land to grass, and a
general reduction of expenditure.

(2) The use of labour-saving machinery, especially during
harvest.

FORFAR. — Mr. Kydd writes : " I put down the decrease in
the numbers employed to the want, in some districts, of improved
housing, and to the greater use of improved labour-saving
machinery, this becoming cheaper and less complicated every
year. In my own immediate district the numbers will not have
decreased so much as in other parts of the county, the most
of the land being on Lord Dalhousie's Panmure estates, where
the labourers' cottages are excellent and of a most improved
class. Then more land is being laid down to grass, although
this is certainly not the case in this district of the county."

Other causes of the decline are: The abolition of small
holdings and crofts; the want of security for the occupiers'
capital; the superior attractiveness of town life (this, in Mr.
Hume's view, being the principal cause); and emigration.
" Modern education," says Mr. Hume, " has the inevitable
tendency of leading the rural population to be discontented
with the monotony of country life; and the cities with their
numerous amusements and bustle will have an ever-increasing
charm for the better-educated of the rural dwellers. Then
emigration, especially to Canada, is taking large numbers of
the very best of our agricultural labourers. The consequence

51

is that ploughmen and labourers are not only getting fewer
in number, but are also failing to maintain the high standard
of physical development that used to characterise them."

HADDINGTON. — (1) The low price of produce has compelled
farmers to work at the least possible expense, consequently the
labour bill has been reduced. Mr. Shields writes: " Since the
eighties, draining, ditching, and drystone dyke building are
all but defunct trades ; the dykes lie in their tumble-down state
faced with one or two lines of barbed wire. Draining has
become so expensive, alike for cutting and tiles, that it costs
about as much to drain medium land as to buy it."

(2) Inferior land has been laid down to grass.

(3) The introduction of labour-saving machinery, notably
binders, has lessened the need for manual labour. Mr. Shields
writes in this connection : " In the better tillage districts
rented at, say, from 25s. to 45s. per acre, the new labour-
saving implements and machinery are indispensable. Binders
have revolutionised harvest work ; the combined ' double drill
plough and manure sower ' is a good second to the binder,
especially in districts where there is a large area of drilled
green crops. Then there is improved threshing machinery,
portable or fixed; in the latter case the oil engine is largely
used, which practically saves the man in attendance, and if the
mill is fitted with self-feeder, trusser, and chaff-blower another
three or four hands can easily be dispensed with."

(4) The wages question, Mr. Shields observes, has also caused
a number of men to take up work in the towns or in the coal
and shale industries, but of recent years, farm hands have been
getting better wages, and the trend is now rather to the country
owing to dull trade and the appreciation of the ploughman's
perquisites — free house and garden, no taxes or rates, extra
harvest and potato money — which bring his regular weekly
wage of 17s. or 19s. to a money value of quite 22s. to 24s. per
week. Mr". Hope writes in the same sense.

KINCARDINE. — The principal causes of the decline are stated
to be: —

(1) The endeavour on the part of farmers, prompted by lack
of means, to save labour in every possible way.

(2) The improvement of machinery.

(3) A want of improved cottages for farm labourers.

(4) A tendency on the part of proprietors to add the small
holdings to the large farms in order to save the expense of
rebuilding houses and steadings.

(5) A desire on the part of the rural population for employ-
ment offering more freedom and better wages. The system of
education is not calculated to promote agricultural instincts,
but tends to divert the youthful population to other channels.

25176 D 2

52

KINROSS. — Mr. Tod writes : " From the agriculturist's stand-
point the principal cause of the decline in the agricultural
population is the laying down of land to pasture, and this the
farmer has to submit to on account of the low price of grain
and the high price of labour. From the labourer's standpoint,
the men being within reach of coal pits prefer the high
wages at the mines. Many of our best ploughmen seek this
employment. In fact, in the morning and evening trains, whole
carriages are occupied by men going to and from their work
in the various villages of the county. -The women will hardly
work in the fields now; they prefer house places, and many
prefer the town, where they have evening entertainments and
greater social advantages."

LINLITHGOW. — Mr. Glendinning writes : "It is significant
that the decline, with the single exception of shepherds, is
entirely in the first decade — between 1881 and 1891 ; and this
can be accounted for by the fact that in the early part of that
decade it became evident that the low level to which prices of
agricultural produce had come down, was to become permanent
and not to be regarded as an adverse fluctuation. Accordingly,
the upland and secondary soils were laid down to grass, where
bailiffs would give place to shepherds/' The growing use of
labour-saving machinery has also had some effect on the num-
bers employed.

MIDLOTHIAN. — Mr. Davidson thinks that the principal cause
of £he decrease from 1881 to 1891 was that, owing to the
decline in the value of produce, a considerable area of secondary
land was laid down to grass or worked on a longer rotation.
During the succeeding ten years the extension of the boundaries
of the city of Edinburgh absorbed a good many suburban
farms. Mr. Gemmell also gives instances of land being diverted
from agricultural purposes in the vicinity of Edinburgh. Mr.
McHutchen-Dobbie writes : " Most of the young men try for
other employments. From my own farms there are one jail-
warder, two railway- engine stokers, two signalmen, one railway
porter, one grocer, one ironmonger and one policeman. These
are first-class men born on my farms. It is said the half-
holiday is an inducement, but the hours of the above men are
longer that those of their fathers as ploughmen. The paper
and carpet mills are also strong competitors for the women
workers."

PEEBLES. — The decline is attributed to imports of agricul-
tural produce, to the present system of education in rural
schools, and the age up to which children are kept at school,
and to a lack of cottages. Mr. Ritchie writes : " Cottages
where families have been reared for generations are allowed to
go to ruins, no new ones are built, and thus population de-
creases. Rents of cottages, owing to the expense of building
and supplying sanitary necessaries, are too high for a working
man. Whole families drift to Peebles, Inverleithan, and

53

Walkerburn to the tweed mills, where they make good wages
and have the evenings to themselves." Mr. Ritchie adds that
Canada attracts many of the best among the young men.

PERTH. — The decline in the agricultural population is thus
accounted for by Mr. Craig: —

(1) Land which is below average quality or is difficult to
work or inconveniently situated cannot, at present prices of
farm produce, be cultivated to advantage, and is consequently
laid down to grass. " Hill farmers who used to cultivate suffi-
cient land to supply their own wants now find it as cheap to
buy in grain and other feeding stuffs, so there is now more
pasture on almost all farms, and on high-lying lands and poor
soils there is practically no cultivation at all."

(2) The increased prosperity of the towns, the great advance
in wages there, and the social advantages of town life, have
attracted not only the surplus agricultural population, but a
good deal of labour that is badly wanted in the country.
" Large numbers of the relatives and friends of country people
have risen to good positions in towns, whilst they, working, as
they imagine, much harder and under less desirable conditions,
have only been able to exist. Every opportunity for employ-
ment in town is, therefore, eagerly taken advantage of. This
continual looking to town life for something better than what
they are at present employed at has begotten a spirit of unrest
amongst farmers' sons and farm labourers which does not augur
well for their continued settlement in the country."

The system of education and the ease and cheapness of com-
munication between town and country foster this spirit of dis-
content with the present conditions of country life and en-
courage the desire for office and mercantile pursuits.

(3) The Colonies, also, are attracting many of the best among
the farmers' sons and farm labourers.

Mr. Campbell and Mr. McDiarniid state that the formation
of new deer forests is partly responsible for the decline. Mr.
McDiarmid says that this is the principal cause in his district.

Mr. Hutcheson attributes the decrease partly to the use of
machinery, while Mr. Campbell states that there is a want of
proper housing accommodation.

ROXBURGH. — The causes assigned for the decrease are : —

(1) The lessening of the area of land under cultivation owing
to the low price of grain.

Mr. Smith writes : " More land would have been laid to grass
had it not been necessary to grow turnips for wintering the
large stocks of half-bred ewes which are the mainstay of the
high-lying arable farms in this country." Mr. Caverhill
corroborates this statement. " The reduction of labour," adds
Mr. Smith, " operated first on those ploughmen who could not

54

supply women workers, with the result that the young married
men, who were probably the more efficient, were forced to seek
employment elsewhere."

(2) A want of cottage accommodation on some farms.

(3) The use of improved machinery.

(4) Higher wages in towns and facilities for railway travel-
ling. Mr. Smith says : " The attraction of the big wages given
in the woollen mills at Ha wick and Galashiels drew whole
families to these towns. This movement was maintained so
long as the prosperity of the woollen factories lasted. Of late
years there has been dulness in this branch of manufacturing
and the influx from the country has fallen off very much."
Men are finding themselves better off in the country with
14s. or 15s1. a week, cow's keep, 1,600 yards of potatoes, free
house and garden, than with 26s. a week in the town.

(5) Unsuitable and unduly prolonged education.

SELKIRK. — The principal cause assigned is the decrease in
land under crops, brought about by the low prices of produce
and high wages of farm servants. Another cause, in Mr.
Linton's opinion, is the decrease of cottars, principally women,
who used to work for very small wages. Owing to competition
in towns and the rise in wages, and also to the fact that married
women seldom work in the fields now, this class has almost
disappeared, their place being taken by Irish workers, who do
not figure in the Census returns. The decrease in shepherds
is attributed to high wages and smaller returns from sheep
farming, there having been cases of putting two men's
"hirsels" or charges into one.

Mr. Linton states that there are holdings of all sizes in the
district, but the buildings are now mostly of old date, having
been put up when prices were higher, and in cases where
natural decay sets in new dwellings are not erected.

DIVISION VII.

Counties of Argyll, Ayr, Bute, Caithness, Dumbarton, Dumfries,
Inverness, Kirkcudbright, Lanark, Orkney, Renfrew, Ross
and Cromarty, Shetland, Stirling, Sutherland and Wigtown.

ARGYLL. — The fall in prices occasioned by the competition
of foreign produce, coupled with a rise in wages, has caused
large tracts of land to be thrown out of cultivation. Drainage
and reclamation have practically ceased. Landlords have con-
solidated holdings, and some farms have been converted into
deer forests. Many small farmers have emigrated to Canada,
attracted by the prospects there. Improved machinery allows
of farm work being done with less labour. Mr. Hunter
alleges excessive rents and a want of labourers' cottages as
further causes of the decline. Mr. McDiarmid says : " With
education the young people naturally reaH, think, and act for

55

themselves, and the tendency towards life in town and light Causes of
employment is on the increase in the youth of both sexes in Decline,
the rural districts." Mr. Campbell, also, refers to the general
disinclination on the part of the rising generation to under-
take farm work. Mr. Andrew writes: "The decline is to a
great extent caused by landlords holding farms, more especially
pastoral farms, in their own hands, many of them being put
under deer; also the tendency has been to group farms
into too large holdings, whereby in the case of those
unlet, a greive takes the place of a few farmers, families
and cottagers; and where the ground is put under deer
many shepherds and their families are sent adrift." Mr.
Campbell, speaking with over forty years' experience of
farming both at home and in Australia, says : " There is no
difficulty in answering this question to anyone with practical
experience. The capital invested in working a farm gives less
net gain than that invested in other industries, consequently
those able to do so turn to other pursuits or go abroad to farm.
There is no question of rent or restrictions of lease involved,
as owning occupiers of ability experience the same results
as other occupiers. I expressly exclude any inference
drawn from model home farms, or other farms in owners'
hands so run as to encourage a heavy stock of game.
There is no want of ability among those who farm in this
country, they compare favourably in knowledge with similar
classes in other countries, but the better the man the less likely
he is to stay farming in this country."

AYR. — Mr. Sloan gives as reasons for the decline : —

(1) The narrow margin between the prices obtained for pro-
duce and the cost of production.

(2) The use of improved machinery for most agricultural
purposes.

(3) The better wages, shorter hours, and social surroundings
in the larger towns.

Mr. Hannah considers that the principal cause is the diffi-
culty of giving steady employment during the whole year.

CAITHNESS. — Owing to the decline in prices a great extent
of land has been laid down in permanent pasture, hence the
same number of agricultural labourers is not required. Im-
provements on the land are only carried out to a very small
extent. Also the young people seem disinclined to remain, and
seek employment in the large towns where they think they
can better their position.

DUMFRIES. — Mr. Waugh gives the following as reasons for
the decline: —

(1) The lack of prospect for the agricultural labourer and
the opportunities which other employments offer.

(2) The use of labour-saving appliances.

56

Causes of (3) The pressure of adverse times on farmers, necessitating
Decline, economy in labour.

Mr. Moifat considers that the children of farm 'servants are
too well educated for agricultural work, and are trained for
and desire a more congenial employment with more leisure.

Dr. Gillespie refers, for his opinion as to certain causes of
the depletion of the rural districts, to part of an address
delivered by him as Moderator of the Church of Scotland in
May, 1903. The following is abridged from the remarks he
then made : —

" That migration should have taken place to some extent is
almost inevitable. Work is not so plentiful in the country as
was formerly the case. Some improvements requiring manual
labour, such as land drainage, have been to a large extent
carried out, and, therefore, regular steady employment, espe-
cially for ordinary labourers not engaged by the year, has been
curtailed. The introduction of labour-saving machinery on
farms on an extensive scale has materially lessened the number
of hands constantly required. But that the depletion has
been carried to a point far beyond their influence is shown by
the fact that there is a positive scarcity in the hands available,
and that, too, at a scale of remuneration at least equal, when
all things are taken into account, to what is paid in the cities
and towns. There is a popular feeling that the lot of the rural
labourer is less favourable than in point of fact it is. I can
testify from an extensive and minute observation, extending
over something like three score years, that, so far as Scotland
is concerned, there is no class of the community whose general
circumstances have undergone so much improvement as the
farm labourer. In respect of the reduction of the hours of
labour, lightening the burden of work, wages, food, clothing,
and general comfort the condition of the agricultural labourers
has undergone a greater advance and improvement than that
of the corresponding class in the larger centres of population.
The restless spirit of the age is, in my opinion, one of
the most powerful factors in depleting the country districts.
Nowhere is this more prevalent and visible than in purely rural
localities among farm servants. The frequent Sittings from
farm to farm and from one district to another — evidence of
which is seen in the large increase in the number of disjunction
certificates now issued year by year — are at once a proof and
a result of this restlessness. There are not a few districts and
estates where the cottage accommodation is insufficient in
extent or defective in quality, or where the shortcoming is
in both respects." Great improvement has taken place, Dr.
Gillespie states, since the passing of the Local Government
Act of 1889. " One of the regrettable and disquieting
features of the situation, however, is that rural depopulation has
been going on where cottages are plentiful and good. But there
are not a few districts where there are insufficient cottages,
as for example where the bothy system extensively prevails."

57

Dr. Gillespie goes oil to refer to the death duties as checking
the building and improvement of cottages. " The incidence of
the death duties in requiring the heir to landed property to
pay the equivalent of three years' rents, cripples the spending
power of new owners over a series of years to such an extent
that not infrequently, as I have learned from observation over
a wide district, fewer people than formerly have been employed
and rural depopulation has been increased." In conclusion
he adds that much has been done during the last two decades to
lessen the naturally dull monotony of country life by the pro-
vision of parish halls, libraries, reading-rooms, lectures, con-
certs, and various entertainments and games.

INVERNESS. — The decline is ascribed to the following
causes : —

(1) General depression among farmers owing to low prices,
causing them to put land under grass and in other ways reduce
the outlay on labour, especially in view of the high rate of
wages prevailing.

(2) The clearing of sheep farms for deer forests.

(3) The breaking up of large sheep farms into smaller hold-
ings, where shepherds are not required.

(4) The refusal in some parts to give the labourer or cottar
land for his own cultivation.

(5) The inducements offered for emigration to the Colonies.

(6) The character of the education given in rural schools.

(7) A preference on the part of the young for work in the
towns, fostered by increased travelling facilities, little induce-
ment being offered to remain in the country.

(8) The high wages earned during the shooting season
enabling men to be largely independent of farm work.

The last two causes are an additional reason for the laying
of land to grass. On the subject of education Mr. Cameron
writes : " This undoubtedly tends to make the country boy
discontented with his lot and with the monotony of country
life. It fires him with a desire to go south to the centres of
population. Formerly boys who had a decided taste or
liking for agricultural pursuits were encouraged by their
parents to indulge these tastes, and so from an early age they
acquired a knowledge and insight (which are now rare) into
the ways and habits of animals. Now, being compelled to
remain at school until the age of 14 or over, they acquire other
tastes and habits and lose their liking for their fathers'
occupation. Those who are to follow agricultural pursuits
should be allowed to leave school at an earlier age."

KIRKCUDBRIGHT. — The decrease is stated to be due to —

(1) The reduction of the cultivated area and the accompany-
ing increase of grass land, requiring a smaller outlay on
labour.

58

(2) Reduced outlay on such works as fencing, draining, &c.

(3) The use of machinery.

Mr. McDowall writes : " I may state that on the two farms
I hold employment was found for five pairs of horses with their
attendants during the seventies, while the ploughing is now
done by one pair of horses. The same amount of produce can-
not now be turned off the farm, but the outlay is reduced by
i£400 and there is also a saving in other directions."

Mr. Biggar states that there has been a tendency to increase
the size of farms by adding one farm to another and also a
reduction in the number of farmers by letting two or more
holdings (not necessarily contiguous) to one farmer.

LANARK. — The decline is attributed to the following
causes : —

(1) The great development of mining and other industries
in the county during the last twenty-five years, and the occu-
pation of land for railways, collieries, and buildings.

(2) Contact of the agricultural labourers with miners and
ironworkers, and the inducements to enter these occupations
for the sake of the higher wages and increase of leisure
afforded.

(3) The laying down of land to pasture, as being more profit-
able than ordinary cropping. More hay is now grown to supply
the needs of the collieries, and there is also a greater demand
for milk.

(4) The improvement of agricultural machinery.

(5) The combining and letting of two or more farms to one
tenant, resulting in an extension of grazing.

(6) A want of suitable cottages.

ORKNEY. — In Mr. McLeniian's view the chief causes of the
decline of the agricultural population during the whole period
are : —

(1) The desire on the part of the rising generation for a
more remunerative vocation, which the education now received
enables them more readily to obtain in the commercial and
industrial centres.

(2) The fall in the price of agricultural produce caused
large farmers to employ less labour on their farms, with the
result that the smaller farmers' families could not all be main-
tained on the produce of these small farms without extra em-
ployment.

Mr. "Watt writes : " I do not think the decline that has
taken place, at any rate as yet, materially affects this county,
as there seems not much difficulty in filling up ploughmen's
places. The wages demanded, however, are high, for this and
for all other farm labour, compared to ten or fifteen years
ago."

OF THE

UNIVERSITY

59

RENFREW. — The reasons assigned for the decline are: — Causes of

(1) Increased cost of labour and reduced price for most of
the produce of arable farms, resulting in the land being laid
down in grass.

(2) The adoption of labour-saving machinery.

(3) The heavy expense in the upkeep of farm buildings to
meet modern requirements, especially on dairy farms to con-
form to sanitary regulations.

All three causes, Mr. Pollock states, tend to an increase in
the size of the holding for economic working. He adds that
many persons brought up on the land refuse to follow agricul-
ture, and prefer life in the towns.

Ross AND CROMARTY. — Mr. Reid considers that the apparent
increase of farmers and graziers is incorrect. The decrease of
shepherds is, he states, entirely owing to sheep land being
turned into deer forests. Many farms employing six or seven
shepherds have been cleared of gheep for this purpose. The
decline in labourers is due : —

(1) To land being kept more in grass, very few farms being
now worked on the four-course shift.

(2) To the use of machinery. The general use of the self-
binder and manuring the turnip break in the autumn enables
a farmer to do with many less hands.

Mr. Fletcher attributes the decrease to emigration and in
general to the necessity of curtailing expenditure on labour in
every possible way.

Mr. Mackenzie considers that the decline is entirely due to
" over education." " The boys and girls, as soon as they are
14 or 15, go off to Glasgow and the south and will have nothing
to say to their parents' occupations."

SHETLAND. — Mr. Mainland writes : "I cannot see that the
decrease has been so much as is reported. As far as farmers
and graziers are concerned, I can give no explanation what-
ever. The reasons of the decrease in labourers and farm
servants are: —

" (1) There has been more machinery imported into the
country.

" (2) There has been a great demand for Shetland hosiery
and the females have devoted more of their time to the manu-
facturing of it than to agricultural labour."

A third reason Mr. Mainland finds is the herring-fishing,
in which, he states, the greater part of the men and women
in Shetland are engaged all the summer and harvest. He does
not consider there has been any decrease amongst male farm
servants. Mr. Anderson thinks that the successful fishings of
recent years may partly account for the apparent decrease in
the agricultural population, and adds that the passing of the

60

Causes of Crofters' Act may have also tended in this direction, previous
Decline. to which many may not have been properly designated.

STIRLING. — Mr. Drysdale writes : *' In a district like this
(i.e., Western district of Stirlingshire and West Perthshire)
removed from centres of population and with expensive transit,
the small holder is heavily handicapped and in some cases has
found it impossible to earn a decent living for himself and
family. The landlords find it a heavy burden keeping up
suitable buildings on small holdings and have taken advantage
as occasion offers to let them along with larger farms.
More and more land, especially in the higher-lying districts,
is being put down to permanent pasture, which is found to
pay better than cropping, especially with sheep at present
prices, and the labour bill can thus be materially cut down.
The rearing of store cattle and selling them as stirks or six-
quarter olds has long been the sheet anchor of the smaller
holders in this county. There is not a living to be made out
of such land in growing cereals or roots at present prices. A
further reason contributing to the employment of fewer
labourers is that an increasing acreage of the strong clay land
is being put down to permanent hay, such as timothy. This
system has been found more profitable and the labour bill can
be considerably cut down. For instance, on a four pair of
horse farm at least one ploughman and a pair of horses can
be dispensed with by putting a section of the farm down to
permanent timothy. I am the occupant of three farms which
some years ago were occupied by three tenants. I have put
two of these farms wholly under pasture and employ one shep-
herd on them. A near neighbour is the occupant of six hold-
ings which a few years ago were in the hands of six tenants.
Three of these holdings have been acquired during the past two
years and will be put down to pasture as rapidly as possible."
The increased use of machinery is also referred to as a
cause of the employment of less labour.

On the other hand, the natural movement of the population
away from the country is noted. Mr. Drysdale writes : " For
years past the pick of our farm labourers have been migrating
to the towns. The want of suitable cottages has contributed
in no small degree to this state of matters. Another induce-
ment is that a man with a young family has better chances
of constant employment for his family at bigger wages in the
large industrial centres than he could have in the country
districts. An industrious man with three or four of a family
working can earn far more per week in the brickfields of
Lanarkshire, for example, than the same mail and family could
earn in any small holding that I know in this district in a
month. Many of the cream of our young men are emigrating
to the Colonies, seeing no prospect with limited means of
earning a respectable livelihood here. Quite a number of
farmers' sons have left within the last fortnight, as well as
estate labourers and ploughmen."

61

WIGTOWN. — Mr. McMaster writes : " Under the present con-
ditions of agriculture it is necessary to reduce by every possible
means the expenses of the farm. More land is kept in grass,
and what is ploughed is, as a rule, neither cultivated nor
cleaned as it used to be. Little draining or other improvements
are carried out. All sorts of labour-saving machinery are used.
For these reasons fewer hands are required. Secondly, the
present system of education in rural schools is unsuited to
what must be the future position and career of the great
majority of the children attending them, who must earn their
living by manual labour. At fourteen they leave school
with exalted ideas and a distaste for farm or domestic work."
Another cause of the decline Mr. McMaster finds in the in-
creased facilities for travelling and the attractions of town life
for the younger people — its variety, shorter hours, and higher
wages.

Mr. Ralston states that the laying of land to grass has taken
place, more especially in the Eastern or Machars division of
the county. In the Western division, while a similar process
has gone on, yet, dairying being the chief industry, many
hands are still required, chiefly for milking. The better
educated and more intelligent of ploughmen's families, both
young men and young women, incline to leave the country
districts and farm life, though recently, Mr. Ralston states,
in no greater numbers.

Causes of
Decline.

3. Is there any difficulty in obtaining- land either Small

for Small Holdings or Allotments, and if so, has this Hoa1^ngs

difficulty contributed in any degree to the decline in Allotments.
the Agricultural population ?

ENGLAND.

DIVISION I.

(a.) Counties of Bedford, Huntingdon, Cambridge, Suffolk, JLsse#9
Hertford, Middlesex and London.

BEDFORD. — There is stated to be no difficulty whatever ; many
allotments are going out of cultivation as they do not pay.

HUNTINGDON. — There is no difficulty in obtaining allotments ;
a large number have been let, but many have been given up
voluntarily, as they do not pay on the strong high lands.
There is little demand for small holdings on the strong lands,
which are quite unsuitable, but in the Fen lands there is a
great demand which is hardly met. Some of the more intelli-
gent and thrifty labourers are now occupying as much as

Small
Holdings

and
Allotments.

300 acres, and a greater number from 20 to 100 acres. It is
not considered that a lack of holdings has contributed in any
degree to the decline.

CAMBRIDGE. — It is reported that there is no difficulty in ob-
taining land for allotments. Mr. Jenyns writes : " I have
several acres just outside my park let to 15 allotment holders at
a rent of 7*. 6d. per rood, payable yearly at Michaelmas, and
Is. per rood is returned if the rent is paid within one week of
demand. I pay rates, &c., and keep up the hedges. Under
these conditions I have no difficulty with the tenants, and the
land is fairly well cultivated. Here, many of the cottages have
good gardens attached; and an annual flower show, in which
great interest is taken, has done much to improve the quality of
the produce grown. If a farm labourer has a good garden at
his back door, it is almost as much land as he can well cultivate.
Allotments must be near the centre of a village to make them
of any practical use."

As regards small holdings, the same writer says : " A neigh-
bouring landlord who farms a large quantity of his own land
informs me that he has made a point of letting land to small
holders when asked for it, but in his experience they cannot be
made to pay unless the holders have some other employment
or occupation as well. They work harder and fare worse than
farm labourers. He adds that his allotments are about half
unlet, and have been taken in bulk by a small holder on the
understanding that should they be required again as allotments
he would have to give way."

In the opinion of another adjoining landlord, Mr. Jenyns
states, one great obstacle to the creation of small holdings is that
their planning out involves the disintegration of larger farms,
and while the provision of appropriate sites for buildings is a
matter of considerable difficulty, the construction of the latter
is very costly. The importance of the neighbourhood of a
steady market as a factor in successful management is also
urged. Mr. Jenyns remarks that a good deal of surplus pro-
duce is grown in the gardens of agricultural labourers, and
that it would be an advantage if this could be collected, say,
once a week, by motor vans, conveyed to a central depot, and
there packed and despatched ; by this means a possible market
would be opened to the producer.

Mr. Stephenson writes : " By far the largest proportion
of land in this district is unsuitable for small holdings.
These require a deep rich free-working soil and a good
market for their garden or other special produce. Most
of Cambridgeshire is corn and sheep-producing land, and
these products cannot pay with small holdings. I hold the
opinion very decidedly that the attempt to bring population
back to the country to work on the land will end in disappoint-
ment, excepting in special circumstances." He anticipates,

63

however, that good results would follow if manufacturing
industries were transplanted to the villages adjoining railways,
thus enabling the employes to spend their spare time in growing
fruit and vegetables, rearing poultry, or even producing milk,
whilst at the same time their families would be brought up
under healthier conditions than at present.

CAMBRIDGE (!SLE OF ELY). — There are said to be quite as
many allotments as are wanted, and many small holdings exist,
for which there is always a good demand.

SUFFOLK. — There are plenty of allotments, and they are not
sought after as they used to be. Wages are higher and the
men less inclined to work after their day's labour is done.
Small holdings are not easy to get, but there is little demand
for them, partly perhaps on account of the difficulty of securing
the necessary capital. No application has been made to the
County Committee during recent years.

ESSEX. — There is no lack of allotments, indeed, many it is
said are lacking tenants; little demand exists for small hold-
ings, the provision of the necessary buildings presents great
difficulty.

HERTFORD. — While in some districts there is no lack of allot-
ments and no difficulty in obtaining small holdings when
required, in other parts the case is different. Mr. Eae writes :
" There is a great scarcity of small holdings, and it is almost
impossible to get allotments on favourable terms." In the
neighbourhood of Sawbridgeworth some difficulty is also ex-
perienced, but in no case is it considered that this has at all
contributed to the decline in population.

MIDDLESEX. — Mr. De Salis writes : " The villages are mostly
well supplied with allotments. I have never heard of any
great demand for small holdings in this neighbourhood." On
the other hand, Mr. Lob jo it writes : " There is a difficulty in
obtaining small holdings. Small places of about 20 acres let
readily at high rentals ; much land within 10 or 15 miles west
of here now devoted to corn, if cut up into small holdings, with
suitable house and premises, would let readily at enhanced
rents."

(b.) Counties of Norfolk^ Lincoln and York (East Riding).

NORFOLK. — There is no difficulty in obtaining allotments,
in fact, many have been given up; small holdings are also
readily obtainable when required. Mr. Tallent (Swaffham)
states that there is no particular demand in his district.

LINCOLN. — There is not the slightest difficulty in obtaining
allotments, in fact there are insufficient applicants in many
cases. To the agricultural labourer work on an allotment is
no change, and at present prices it does not pay to grow more

Small
Holdings

and
Allotments.

64

Small
Holdings

and
Allotments.

produce than is required for personal needs, or to feed a pig.
To working men near towns, however, allotments are a great
boon. Mr. Brown (Appleby, Lindsey) writes : <k There have
been here for a very long time more than 40 ' cow cottages ' ;
they are being given up and let to the farmers. In surrounding
parishes similar holdings are entirely given up." Mr. Frankish
(St. Catherines, Lindsey) says : " Labourers in Lincolnshire
generally have good gardens, or the farmer gives them potatoes,
or land to grow them on, and when a man is working all day
he does not want to go to an allotment. The tradesmen, black-
smiths, carpenters, &c., are generally the applicants, and often
get the lot in the end."

As to small holdings, Mr. Morton (Washingboro5, Kesteven)
writes : " Few labourers have any capital to take up a small
holding. Some scheme should be devised lay which the best
and most industrious of them should have the chance of getting
one at a fair rent. At present, owing to the great demand,
small holdings command a higher rent than they are really
worth, generally 50 to 75 per cent, higher than similar land
let to larger tenants, and as the assessment for local rates is in
most Unions based upon the actual rent, this entails a double
hardship. Of course, for various reasons the rent of a small
holding must be to some extent higher than that of a larger
farm." Mr. Frankish thinks that there is not now any diffi-
culty in obtaining small holdings, but that there are few places
in Lines., except Holland, where they can pay, and even there
they are said to be overdone and profits very much reduced.

Mr. Bellwood (Kirton Lindsey) writes : " There is a difficulty
in obtaining land for small holdings, for which there is a keen
demand, though many of those who have them are badly off. I
had fifty applications a fortnight ago for a farm of 32 acres,
from a single advertisement."

YORK, E. RIDING. — A difficulty is experienced in obtaining
suitable land for allotments and small holdings. Mr. Pearson
writes : " The land round here was originally owned by small
men, but, with few exceptions, now forms one estate. Some
villages are still occupied by small freeholders, and these may be
frequently detected by the dilapidated state of buildings, &c. No
system of small holdings can in my opinion prove successful
unless organised by a large landowner of a very sympathetic
nature. Precautions should be taken to prevent the sale,
mortgage, or splitting up of the property held."

DIVISION II.

(a.) Counties of Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Berks and Hants.

KENT. — There is no difficulty in obtaining allotments.
Mr. Love (Eastchurch, Sheppey) writes: "There are several
allotments in hand in this parish, close to the village. All
the farm cottages have gardens attached, and are let at 2s. to

65

3s. per week, free of rates." Mr. Whitehead considers that Small
while allotments may make the married labourers more con- Hcll
tented, they do not offer any inducement to keep the younger
men on the land. As regards small holdings, he writes : " The
importance of small holdings and their usefulness in keeping
villagers on the land, are not sufficiently realised in Kent.
Where there are small holders they do well, especially those
who have a little fruit land, but there is certainly a difficulty
in obtaining land for small holdings." (See also p. 101.)

SURREY. — Large farms are easier to get and less wanted, and
therefore disproportionately cheaper than small ones. Small
holdings at fair rents are badly wanted but are difficult to get.
Had they been obtainable, it is thought the decline in popu-
lation would not have been so great.

SUSSEX. — There appears to be no difficulty as regard* allot-
ments, and these are not much wanted, as most of the cottages
have good gardens attached. With reference to small hold-
ings, Mr. Haviland writes : " There is a great demand for small
grass holdings from 10 to 40 acres, but speaking generally,
these small farmers are not able to pay such rents as to justify
the extra capital outlay on house and buildings. The demand
is created quite as much by retired tradesmen and people who
vainly hope to make a living amidst pleasant surroundings,
as by agricultural labourers who have saved a few pounds and
seek to improve their position." He further observes that a
farmer cannot well employ a labourer who occupies a few acres
of land, as the latter wants to work on his own farm just when
he is most wanted by the farmer. Mr. Haviland considers
that while the creation of a number of small grass holdings
would for a time increase the agricultural population, the
tenants could only make a living by paying rents which would
not be remunerative to the owner.

Mr. Grant finds no general desire for small holdings, and
remarks that the small holder was the first to go to the wTall
when depression set in. " There are," he writes, " numbers of
holdings from 6 to 20 acres to let, and there is a difficulty in
finding tenants able and willing to use the land." Mr.
H. W. Drewitt writes: "Small holdings are not in demand
except near towns, and, as far as I can ascertain, landowners
are always ready to meet any demand, provided they can get
sufficient rent to cover the extra outlay required. During the
last few years, £20 to £25 houses with 5 to 10 acres of land
have been largely in request by people with a small assured
income who wish to live in the country, raise poultry, and
keep a cow or two ; if this continues it will become much more
difficult for the genuine small holder, whose sole income is
from the land, to find a small farm at a reasonable rent."
Mr. Chandler states that there is very great difficulty in obtain-
ing small holdings, for which there is a keen demand; he

25 176 E

66

Small
Holdings

and
Allotments.

thinks this has contributed to the decline in population, since
small holdings employ more labour proportionately than large
farms.

BERKSHIRE. — There are plenty of allotments ; many have been
given up and are cultivated with the larger holdings ; they do
not pay unless close to a town. There is said to be little
demand for small holdings.

HAMPSHIRE. — There is not much demand for allotments,
though the facilities for obtaining them appear to be adequate.
Mr. Perkins urges the necessity of providing them with pig-
styes and tool-sheds, and suggests that the rent should include
a sinking fund to provide for purchase. As regards small
holdings, Mr. Judd states that there is little demand, and that
all applications to the County Council have been considered
and granted as far as practicable. Mr. Perkins thinks the
supply is not equal to the demand, as there is always competi-
tion for a good holding. Lack of capital deters many, who
are otherwise eligible, from taking small holdings; it is sug-
gested that facilities for obtaining credit through co-operative
banks might solve this difficulty.

(b.) Counties of Aottiny/iam, Leicester, Rutland, Northampton,
Buckingham, Oxford and Warwick.

NOTTINGHAM. — There is not much demand for allotments and
no difficulty in obtaining them. Mr. Smith writes : " In this
parish many have been given up and are occupied in 2
or f')-acre lots by village shopkeepers and tradesmen ; scarcely
a labourer has one now, but all the cottages have gardens
attached." Of small holdings, Mr. Walker writes : " There is
a keen competition for small holdings of 10 to 40 acres, and
these command very often a higher rent than is justified by the
profit to be got out of them, except where situated close to a
town. There are not sufficient of these small farms to satisfy
the demand. The cost of putting up buildings to create such
holdings would be very great."

LEICESTER. — There is no difficulty in obtaining allotments.
Mr. Long will writes: "Allotments are in no demand here;
I have some on my farm and no one wants them, although
they are close to the village." Mr. Bassett writes: "The
County Council have been prepared for some years to settle any
difficulty, but only a few cases have occurred/' Small holdings
are stated to be very difficult to obtain in many villages, and
the rents are proportionately very much higher than those of
larger farms. Mr. Longwill suggests that money should be
advanced to landlords at a low rate of interest to enable them
to provide the necessary buildings; he considers that an in-
crease of small holdings of not less than 50 acres, or in the
case of good and well-situated land, 20 to 25 acres in extent,
would be beneficial.

67

RUTLAND. — The demand for allotments is said to be amply Small
met throughout the county, and there is no demand for small Holdmgs
holdings. Allotments.

NORTHAMPTON. — There is no difficulty in obtaining allot-
ments ; the supply is ample and there is less demand than for-
merly. Mr. Rooke writes : " Beyond the convenience of a 'potato
patch,' the thirst for allotments has largely died out, owing
to cheap food products of all kinds being hawked round our
villages, and the aversion of well-paid labourers to exerting
themselves unduly after working hours." As regards small
holdings, he continues, " There is a difficulty in procuring small
holdings, for which there is an increasing demand; every
holding requires a house and homestead fitted to its size, and
these are not forthcoming without an expenditure of capital
and the remodelling of existing arrangements." Mr. Dickson
writes : " Small holdings to rent were encouraged in this neigh-
bourhood some years ago by one or two landowners, but with
very few exceptions they have not proved successful, and the
small holding hardly now exists as such, although in one or
two cases a man who began with a small holding now occupies
a farm of considerable area."

BUCKINGHAM. — There is stated to be no difficulty whatever in
obtaining allotments ; many have been given up as they did not
pay for the time and trouble spent in working. Mr. Treadwell
writes : " There is more difficulty in finding tenants for allot-
ments already laid out. In one instance, where some were
wanted, the parish took 6 acres of my best land, next the
village; they could not find tenants for 3 acres of it without
letting some to tradesmen, and I had to take 3 acres back."

OXFORD. — As regards allotments, Mr. King writes : " We
have had a few applications to the County Council, but these
have generally been met by arrangement with landowners
without having to resort to compulsory powers." Mr. Ash-
hurst says : " Any amount of allotment land can be had, and
a large number round here are out of cultivation." Of small
holdings he writes : " The experiment of very small holdings
came utterly to grief at Attington, and I do not hear of any
desire for them in this part." The latter statement is corrobo-
rated by others. Mr. Greaves writes : " I can say from actual
facts that the small holder is in a deplorable state as regards
his finances and the bad state of the land. The moderate sized
farm where stock can be produced is what the country needs."

WARWICK. — There is no difficulty in obtaining land for
allotments; the demand is decreasing, and many have been
given up. On the whole, there appears to be little de-
mand for very small holdings. Mr. Sale, however, thinks
there would be a good demand for 50 or 60-acre lots
of land. Mr. Lane writes: "Away from towns or lacking

2 5176 E 2

68

Holdings sPecia^ surroundings, small holdings cannot be profitably
and ° cultivated, and in my district have not to my knowledge
Allotments, been asked for."

DIVISION III.

(a.) Counties of Salop, Worcester, Gloucester, Wilts, Monmoullt

and Hereford.

SALOP. — There appears to be little demand for allotments,
which, except near the towns, are not a success. Of small
holdings, Mr. Morris writes : " There is a good demand for
convenient small holdings with houses and buildings thereon,
and a number of these would let readily to suitable tenants.
Land could no doubt be had at a reasonable price, but no one
seems disposed to bear the cost of the houses and buildings,
knowing that no ordinary tenant could pay anything like fail-
interest on the outlay.'' Mr. Lee states that holdings of
3 or 4 acres of grass land are not sufficiently plentiful,
and that had such been offered to thrifty labourers the
prospect would have counterbalanced the desire for change.
Mr. Thursfield writes: ''This district (Much Wenlock) is
particularly suited for small holdings; there are a good
number, and they are much sought after. Many were
provided when the £10 franchise gave votes in this, the
largest agricultural borough of England in those days. They
pay regularly, with no losses or arrears, form a stepping-stone
for a farm labourer and will keep him on the land. On a large
arable farm which I hold for many years each of my farm
labourers rented a small holding and had a row (men attending
to horses and cattle excepted) ; I found this attracted the best
workmen, and was most satisfactory to both parties."

AYoRCESTER. — Mr. Wheeler writes : "In this district nearly
all the cottages have fair-sized gardens. I laid out some allot-
ments about ten years ago, but they have all been given up.
1 do not think there is any difficulty in getting allotments in
any part of the county. The County Council have some in the
south of the county which are always let, but there is no very
great competition for them; the tendency is for the allotments
to get into fewer hands, the best tenants being anxious to take
an additional plot when one becomes vacant. No doubt more
small holdings would be taken up if they were available. As a
rule the small holder does better as a tenant that as a free-
holder; the latter generally goes under, at all events in the
second generation." The difficulties, he remarks, in the way
of the creation of small holdings are : —

(1) The expense of providing the necessary buildings.

(2) The unwillingness of the large farmers to part with any
of their land, so that even if a landlord is willing to incur the
expense, a small holding can practically only be carved out
on a change of tenancy.

69

" I do not think," says Mr. Wheeler, " a general cutting up Small
of large farms into small holdings would be successful in this Holdings
district. The tenant of a small holding (say up to 20 acres) Allotments

cannot, except, perhaps, by market gardening, live upon it. '

If he has outside employment the holding is a great help to
him, and he should also be a help to the neighbouring farmer
by supplying extra labour in busy times. To effect this, the
holdings should be dotted about the country. The venture of
the County Council in cutting up a farm at Catshill, near
Bromsgrove, has been very successful, but the position there
was very exceptional."

GLOUCESTER. — There is no difficulty in obtaining allotments,
in fact many are going out of cultivation. Mr. Hulbert writes :
u A man can buy all garden produce in this neighbourhood
cheaper than lie can grow it in an allotment. Let him have
a cottage and a good garden and he is better off than
ever he was." Small holdings are said to be in little
demand. Mr. White writes : " Small holdings are of 110
use on poor arable land far away from big centres. I own
several, and I know that i?he tenants work hard and live hard
and yet do no good, although the rent is from 10s. to 15s. per
acre ; the land is most suitable for corn, which does not pay to
grow." Nevertheless he considers that small holdings may be
an inducement to keep the best class of farm labourers on the
land by providing a position of independence which they can
look forward to,. but which will only be attained by thrift, keen
industry and hard work. The land for such holdings, how-
ever, must be fairly good, and ample facilities must exist for
marketing the produce; even then the occupiers must expect
to do the work of two men for the wages of one.

WILTSHIRE. — There is no lack of allotments ; a great many
have been given up as the low price of produce makes it unpro-
fitable to cultivate them. In the case of small holdings there is
some difficulty. Mr. Stevens writes : " Small holdings are very
rare, and where they exist the occupier has to do the work of two
men, and then very rarely succeeds in making a living. I do
not think the lack has contributed in any degree to the decline
in the population." Mr". Squarey writes : " The opportunities
of obtaining small holdings are not as frequent as we could
wish, the question of housing, homestead, water supply, and
fencing are the main obstacles." Referring to the failure of a
particular experiment some years ago in the direction of pro-
viding small holdings, he states that there was less disposi-
tion to accept them than he had been led to expect. " We
have several instances," he writes, " of property split up into
small holdings which for the most part are not satisfactory
from a financial and industrial point of view. Only in one case
am I fairly assured of their being financially a success, viz., at
Winterslow, near Salisbury, under the early guidance of Major

70

Poore. In this case the occupiers have a source of winiei1
income from the coppice and timber industries near at hand."

MONMOUTH. — Away from the towns there is little demand for
allotments, where cottages have good gardens and (which is
very general) potato ground is provided free of cost; in many
cases allotments have been given up. Of small holdings
Mr. Stratton writes : " Small holdings are readily taken up,
and no doubt more would be if offered within a reasonable
distance of towns or railway stations, but they are of little
account except for garden produce or poultry or both com-
bined; for corn growing they are impossible." Mr. Wrigley
says : " In former times small holdings were much sought
after, as the occupiers could obtain work on the farms or in the
woods, but from the fact of their having a cow or two of
their own they do not readily take to the work that is
now required on the farms, namely stock-keeping, which in-
volves longer hours and also Sunday duty; there is also not
nearly so much work in the woods. Consequently, the holdings
are increasing in size from 2 or 3 acres up to 10 acres, and
many of the cottages are being pulled down or converted into
buildings."

Mr. Williams remarks that small holdings are let readily
at rents which, though comparatively high, would not cover the
interest on the outlay for the necessary house and buildings.
He writes : "In the neighbouring county of Hereford, a few
years ago a demand was made on a parish council to provide
small holdings ; a farm of about 30 acres was to be had at about
305. an acre, or reasonable terms of purchase. Three appli-
cants asked for 10 acres each; to provide two more sets of
buildings would have entailed an outlay the interest on which
would have brought the rent to nearly £3 an acre, so, I believe,
they were all refused." Mr. Williams does not think a lack of
small holdings has contributed to the decline in population.

HEREFORD. — The number of allotments appears to be equal
to requirements. As regards small holdings, Mr. Riley writes :
" Hereabouts, and, indeed, all over the county there are so
many small holdings that there has been no agitation for them.
It is true the applications are numerous when one is to let.
I had 80 for a very good grass farm of 40 acres (half
orcharding) this year, and over 50 for one of 20 acres three
years ago. It would be better to have more 12 to 30-acre farms,
but it simply does not pay to make them. The county being
adapted to orcharding, is very favourable for small holdings."

Mr. Wootton writes : " Forty years ago there were quite a
number of 5 to 50-acre farms in this district, and many of
the cottages had from J to 2 acres of orcharding attached. An
industrious man with a family was able to keep a few sheep or
a cow or two, and grow fruit, &c. ; from this small beginning
many of the best and most practical farmers in our district have

71

sprung. In West Herefordshire we have many large estates
of 7,000 to 10,000 acres; the owners being large game pre-
servers preferred to have large farms rather than small hold- Allotment.

ings. Where these existed they have been bought up by the

large owners, and the demand for them growing, they have
often let for more than double the rent of adjoining farms/'
Mr. Turner does not consider that the want of small holdings
has contributed much to the decline in population.

(b.) Counties of Somerset, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall.

SOMERSET. — The supply of allotments appears to be more than
sufficient for requirements. Mr. Berry says : " Many have
been given up and are now full of weeds ; at least half in this
parish are idle at present, clearly proving to me that the decline
in the labouring population was not due to the want of land."
Mr. Gibbons writes : *' In our parish, although we have a mixed
agricultural and mining population, not half the allotments are
occupied ; this is not a solitary case, but is general in the dis-
trict." Mr. Parsons writes : " When the Allotments Act of
1887 was passed, everyone wanted allotments, but now tenants
cannot be found for them."

Small holdings let readily and at higher rents than large
farms, but this is accounted for by the proportionately greater
cost of the buildings. If situated near towns and on good land,
a greater number would be an advantage. Mr. Berry writes :
" It would be expensive to make small holdings on account
of house and buildings having to be erected, but if more
of 10 to 50 acres existed I believe they would find tenants and
probably maintain a family, but, generally, I notice that small
holdings are not well farmed, and if the farmer and his family
would work for a large farmer as they do on their own farm,
they -would be better off; a small holding on poor land is
useless." Mr. Gibbons says : " We have a number of small
farms, but changes are most frequent, 'and one after another is
sold up."

DORSET. — Allotments appear to be readily obtainable. In
many places they have been given up, but it is thought that
the demand would be increased if a ready market could be
found for surplus produce. While in some districts there is
little demand for small holdings, in others they are keenly
competed for. Mr. Duke writes : ''As regards the small hold-
ing, which I take to be anything from 10 to 50 acres, a large
area in the county is not adapted for this kind of husbandry,
and it is probable that in many parts if the better land were
taken for this purpose it would tend to throw .more of the poor
land to which it is now' attached out of cultivation. There is
just now a considerable demand for this class of holding, but
applicants are not of the agricultural labourer class, but mostly
small tradesmen and townsfolk, Whose experience is very

Small
Holdings

and
Allotments

72

limited, and whose requirements as to building accommodation
make it extreme^ doubtful tliat they could make sufficient out
of the produce of a smallholding at prevailing prices to pay an
adequate rent to cover the heavy outlay that would be neces-
sary." It is not considered that the lack either of allotments
or small holdings has contributed to the decline in population.

DEVON. — In some cases there is difficulty in obtaining land
for small holdings, and to some extent this is thought to have
contributed to the rural exodus. At the same time it is re-
marked that few labourers could enter on a holding without
assistance. The chief obstacle is not the want of land but the
cost of providing the requisite buildings. Mr. Chamier writes :
' The increased requirements of local authorities, the general
demand for improved accommodation for man and beast render
it impracticable to provide these except at a loss. Small
holdings are in good demand; as a rule the tenants do well,
and the present tendency is to preserve the small holdings and
not to throw them into the larger ones as used to be the case
in the inflated times of thirty years ago." There appears to be
a great demand for small dairy holdings of 20 to 80 acres.

CORNWALL. — There is no evidence of any demand for allot-
ments that is not fully supplied. Mr. Thomas writes : " Farm
labourers generally have good gardens and mostly also twenty
.perches of land for growing potatoes, free of cost. Land for
small holdings is obtainable without much difficulty, but the
expense of erecting the necessary buildings is practically pro-
hibitive." Mr. Menhinick remarks: "I do not think there
would be much inducement to obtain small holdings in this
district, as it is so far from large centres of population that the
markets would not be good enough to make them a success."
Mr. RawTling states that there are many thousand of acres of
unenclosed land, much of which might be turned to very useful
account, and many labourers, if they could have financial
assistance on the security of their holdings, would be inclined
to try what they could do with it.

DIVISION IV.

(a.) Counties of Northumberland^ Durlunn, York (North
and York (IVc&t Riding).

NORTHUMBERLAND. — Allotments are but little sought for
except by townsmen or by carters who wish to grow a little
horse-corn or a few potatoes. Most of the labourers live on
the farms and have cottages with good gardens rent-free;
moreover, they get potatoes grown for them on the farm, and
generally a cow kept.

Small holdings are stated to be in great demand and to
command relatively high rents, especially grass holdings.
The demand, however, is said by Mr. Marshall to come less

n

from the strictly agricultural population than from those who Small
have other employment. Mr. Chrisp writes : " More holdings 1

of a rental of £100 to £150 per annum are required, as
one this size gives full employment to a man and his family,
and when working for themselves they are more interested in
the work and thus more inclined to stay in the country."
Mr. Bolan states that in his district farm servants are
taking most of the smaller farms that are to let.

DURHAM. — The demand both for small holdings and allot-
ments is stated to be very small, and where they are wanted
there is said* to be no difficulty in obtaining land. Mr. Kent
refers to a limited demand for small holdings of 30 to
60 acres. It is not thought that this question has had any
particular bearing upon the decline in population.

YORK (N. BIDING). — There is great difficulty in obtaining
small holdings except when situated where no profit can be
made; this difficulty is held to have undoubtedly contributed
to the decline. Mr. Robinson writes : u My young men when
over twenty generally want a wife, and there being no small
holdings, they drift into the towns. Sometimes we come across
exceptions ; in Cleveland two men who were once labourers of
mine are now farming 150 acres or so each and are doing very
well, but these are very exceptional men." Mr. Walton remarks
that land near the villages is exceedingly dear and difficult to
secure, the demand being active. Mr. Wood writes : " Where
small holdings of 20 to 50 acres with house and suitable build-
ings are to let they are immediately taken up. One of the
chief reasons for this is that farmers do not care to pay a man
his full wage in cash, but prefer to board him in the house and
pay the wages once a year ; consequently, when an agricultural
labourer saves enough money to marry he must either take a
small holding or seek employment in the large towns."

YORK (W. RIDING). — There appears to be little demand for
small holdings or allotments. Mr. Thompson writes : " The
rate of wages is so much higher and the cost of living so much
lower than formerly, that there is a tendency for the labourer
to take things more easily; he does not care to work overtime
nor to allow the demands which a small holding makes on his
time to interfere with his regular employment. In this small
village there were several small holdings, chiefly grass, some
years ago, when wages were 135. or 14s. per week; each occu-
pier kept one or more cows and sold the produce. The husband
worked on the neighbouring farms and the wife milked the
cows. Now that the man has a wage of about 20s. per week
the necessity for the wife to work has ceased to exist, and the
land has either been given up to larger farmers, or is mown
for hay or sublet to anyone who will take it." He adds that
his remarks apply only to very small holdings, and not to farms
which are sufficiently large to occupy the whole or greater

SmaU part of the time of a man and his family. Colonel Maude

Holdings remarks that small yeoman farmers with 20 to 50 acres of land

Allotments were verv numerous 50 or 60 years ago, but that this class

k has been almost extinguished, principally owing to the strain

on their resources caused by the bad seasons and diseases
amongst stock in the later seventies. He is convinced that
tenant farmers are in a better position during long periods of
depression than small occupying owners. He thinks that if it
Avere wanted, land could be easily obtained for small holdings
provided it was not taken from the best land near the villages,
leaving the poorer land to the large farmers. Mr. Beadon
remarks that in the Huddersfield district most of the farms are
small, and are worked by the occupiers and their sons.

(b.) Counties of Cumberland, Westmorland, Lancashire, Cheshire,
Derby and Stafford.

CUMBERLAND. — Mr. Tinniswood observes that the price of
small holdings per acre is much higher than that of larger
holdings, and that the cost of buildings is a bar to the extension
'of their number. Mr. Shanks writes : " Small holdings of
60 acres and under let at tremendous rents. Competition for
this class of holding is so keen that depression is sure to
follow. Farms of 300 acres and upwards — I do not refer to hi'l
farms — can be had at little more than half the rent of the for-
mer." Mr. Watt writes : " IThe prospect of being able in the near
future to rent small farms would in my opinion induce the
better class of labourers to remain on the land and to take a
greater interest in agriculture. Here the question of capital
comes in, which is met to some extent in the ' Fell ' districts
by the landowners providing the standing flocks of sheep. An
extension of such a system on a substantial financial basis
would give the best class of men a start."

WESTMORLAND. — Mr. Punchard states that there is no reluct-
ance to provide land for small holdings or allotments where an
adequate return can be looked for, and provided that the best
meadows or pastures of the larger farms are not demanded;
the essential difficulty is the cost of erecting buildings meeting
the modern requirements of sanitary authorities, and the pros-
pect of insufficient return in the shape of rent. " Land-
owners," he remarks, " are more ready to provide the small
holdings than suitable tenants are likely to be found who
would or could pay adequate rents." Of the small farms which
formerly existed he writes: "Despite a desire on the part of
sundry large landowners to maintain these small holdings, they
have gradually disappeared because their maintenance called
for unremunerative outlay of capital. Whenever a house on a
small holding has got much out of repair and has required a
considerable outlay in money, the inability to secure an
adequate return of interest has resulted in the abolition of the

75

farm as a separate holding." This has occurred particularly in Small
the case of very small holdings — 15 to 20 acres — which formerly Holdings
were held in connection with village industries. "With the and
loss of these industries and therewith the loss of casual employ- Allotments,
ment in the way of carting, &c., the small holder had 110
opportunity of augmenting his income, whilst the profits from
the land itself also dwindled so that they were not sufficient
by themselves to maintain the man and his family."

LANCASHIRE. — There appears to be very little unsatisfied
demand either for small holdings or allotments. If wanted,
they can readily be obtained. Near towns there is some
demand for land for market gardens.

CHESHIRE. — Mr. Davies writes : " I candidly confess that the
lack of more small holdings has contributed to the decline of
the agricultural population. I am a strong believer in the
multiplication of small holdings as the best means (in Cheshire)
of checking this migration to towns, and enabling farmers to
secure a better class of workmen and of indoor female labour
for the dairy farms."

The difficulty in the way of creating more small holdings is
not in obtaining land but in the cost of putting up the requisite
buildings.

Mr. Beecroft states that most of the labourers have good
cottages and gardens, and in many instances sufficient land tr>
keep a cow ; while Mr. Ravenshaw states that in the same dis-
trict the resident labourer has a small holding or allotment or,
failing this, is usually allowed potato ground.

DERBY. — It is not thought that the demand for small hold-
ings has increased, and as regards allotments, Mr. Waite
observes that such land soon goes out of cultivation for want
of manure, when several plots will be thrown together and let
to farmers for roots.

STAFFORD. — There is no difficulty in obtaining allotments —
in fact, many are tenantless. Mr. Carrington Smith writes:
k' During the fifty years spent by me in the occupation of my
present farm, I have seen one block of allotments given up ;
the old allotment field has been added to the small holding
of the village blacksmith. Whereas thirty to fifty years ago
it paid a labourer, earning from 2s. to 2s. 4d. per day, to dig
for beans, barley, or other grain with which to feed a pig, it
now no longer pays him to work for himself ; his wages being
25 per cent, higher and allotment produce (say) 30 per cent,
lower, the economic status of spade husbandry has been revolu-
tionised.'' Small holdings of 20 to 60 acres are, Mr. Smith states,
decidedly in demand ; on such holdings very little hired labour
is required. There have, however, been no applications to the
Staffordshire County Council. Captain Levett writes : "Of course
the great difficulty of small holdings is the question of capital
for the necessary buildings, as many a man would like to try

Small
Holdings

and
Allotments.

?6

his hand at miniature farming if somebody else would in the
first instance erect the necessary homestead." Mr. Smith
remarks that there is so great a demand for non-agricultural
labour that small (3 to 4-acre) holdings and allotments are not
likely to increase.

WALES.

DIVISION V.

ANGLESEY. — Small holdings are stated to be much more
easily let, and at higher rents, than larger farms. A tendency,
however, is observed to throw small holdings, as they become
vacant, into large ones to save the cost of building. Mr.
Nicholls Jones thinks this is much to be deplored.

BRECON. — Mr. Price states that small holdings are not easily
obtained, and that in consequence of the keen competition they
let at higher rents than larger farms, especially near the towns
and villages. He considers that State assistance should be
obtainable for the provision of buildings, the expense of w'hich
is the principal difficulty in the way of creating small hold-
ings. There is not much demand for allotments. Mr. Price
writes : " When the landlords are willing to grant land for this
purpose, tenants .are loth to part with the best portions of their
holdings, while the inferior parts are not suitable. As far as
I can make out, however, this matter has not contributed in
any degree to the decline of the agricultural population."

CARDIGAN. — Mr. Jones writes : " When the Allotments Act
was passed many applications were made for a plot of land to
maintain a cow; in most cases they were rejected. Where
there is a cottage with sufficient land attached to maintain
about two cows, situated in rather an outlandish locality, with
110 roads, far away from school, church, railway, &e., it is
difficult to let even at a very reasonable rent. People want to
live near the main road with all other conveniences. There is
a great demand for small holdings where the soil is naturally
fertile, and, as a rule, they are highly rented." Those at a high
elevation are not keenly asked for, and many have been
recently grouped together. Mr. Jones thinks there would be
more small holdings if it paid to erect new buildings.
Mr. Edwards writes : " The county is eminently one of small
holdings, for which there is always great demand. No attempt
has been made to meet this demand either privately or by public
authorities.

CARMARTHEN. — The replies to this question are conflicting.
Mr. Drummond states that the supply is more than equal to
the demand in rural districts. Mr. Thomas thinks there is no
demand for 'allotments. Mr. Eees, however, writes: " Yes,

77

there is great difficulty, and it lias probably contributed much Small
to the decline in our agricultural population. Whenever land Holdings
was applied for by a working man through the parish council,
I cannot recall a single application that succeeded ; both land-
lord and tenant opposed the Allotment Act."

CARNARVON. — It is stated that there would be no difficulty
in obtaining land for small holdings or allotments if there were
a demand for such.

DENBIGH. — There is stated to be great difficulty in obtaining
land for small holdings and allotments.

GLAMORGAN. — One correspondent considers that more land
would be cultivated if small holdings or allotments became
general, but rents are too high and allotments are not as a rule
encouraged. Mr. Forrest writes : " There is a considerable
difficulty in obtaining small holdings owing to the heavy initial
expenditure on house and buildings, and as the present byelaws
prohibit anything in the nature of a temporary structure, the
capital outlay is too great for a sufficiently moderate rent to
cover, at even a low rate of interest, leaving out the question
of a sinking fund being provided to purchase the holding.
Small holdings, where they do exist, are in very great demand
and easily let well. As to allotments, there is a demand near
large centres of population, but in the purely agricultural
districts I do not think allotments are in request, as the gardens
attached to cottages are ample for ordinary requirements, and I
have noticed that in many cases the allotments are worked in a
slovenly manner. As to whether the lack of small holdings
has contributed to the present conditions, I should say not,
as in one particular district in which I manage property there
are a large number of these holdings, but I notice that for the
most part the occupiers are old people, and when a place be-
comes vacant one of the children or a relative of the old tenant
generally applies for it from some town where they have
gone to live and work. Again, the people who want small
holdings are invariably those who have made some money and
want a small place which they can manage themselves, and
who would not work for the surrounding farmers, without
which these holdings would not suffice to bring up a family.
To be a success from the agriculturist's point of view, the
occupiers of small holdings should in a measure supply the
extra labour required on the land during the busy season."

MERIONETH.— Mr. Wynne states that no difficulty is experi-
enced, there being many small holdings available in the district
which are not occupied. The agricultural labourers do not
care to live in secluded cottages.

MONTGOMERY. — The correspondents for this county, in a joint
reply, write as follows : " There would be no difficulty in
obtaining land for allotments, but there is indeed little or no
demand for them. We cannot remember any application to

78

Small
Holdings

and
Allotments.

the County Council for a holding of this description. There
would be no difficulty either in procuring land for small
holdings (5 to 25 acres), as landowners would willingly put
land at the disposal of suitable applicants for this purpose.
But the difficulty is in providing the necessary buildings.
In view of the cost of erecting buildings adapted to modern
requirements, and the large remissions of rent granted in
recent years by landowners, the latter have not the means to
provide for the outlay ; moreover, the inadequate money return
does not encourage such outlay."

PEMBROKE. — There is stated to be no difficulty in obtaining
land. Cottages, however, almost without exception, have gar-
dens large enough to occupy the workmen's spare time and to
supply all the vegetables required except, perhaps, potatoes,
and these can be grown in the farmer's field by arrange-
ment, or, in the case of regular labourers, are supplied as
a customary part of the yearly hiring bargain. There
are also, Mr. Richards states, a considerable number of
small holdings scattered throughout the district, but the
demand for them is nothing like that for farms of 100 to 200
acres and upwards by farmers' sons. He writes : " Nearly
all these (the small farms) and some of our largest farms
up to 300 acres are occupied by men who began life as
farm servants, carpenters, blacksmiths, shoemakers, &c. Most
are doing well, and in many cases are more progressive and
enterprising than some of the hereditary farmers of the neigh-
bourhood. It is doubtful, however, if the small occupiers are
in a much better position than the good workman who has
remained an agricultural labourer. As farm servants they
accumulated a small hoard which enabled them to take a small
farm. But their sons and daughters generally have to begin
life as farm servants or are sent to learn a trade of some sort
and are thus no better off than the children of the regular
agricultural labourer."

RADNOR. — Mr. Lewis states that great difficulty is experienced
in his district in obtaining small holdings or allotments, and
if land is obtainable it is often of such a nature as to be worth-
less for the purpose required. "To my knowledge," he writes,
" there are a number of industrious working men who would
make ideal managers of small holdings if they could get them.
I may say the majority of farmers in this part of the county
employ single men who board and sleep on the premises, con-
sequently, when they get married they have to go to the coal
pits or public works, or drift into the towns; when such men
are able to get a small farm, they work it themselves and train
up their children in thrift and knowledge of agriculture. If
the country districts are to retain these men it must be by
giving them a chance of becoming small farmers themselves
by putting a stop to farms being hitched one on to another."

79
SCOTLAND.

DIVISION VI.

Counties of Aberdeen, Banff, Berwick, Clackmannan, Elgin, Fife,
Forfar, Haddinyton, Kincardine, Kinross, Linlithgow, Mid-
lothian, Nairn, Peebles, Perth, Roxburgh and Selkirk.

ABERDEEN. — Mr. Ainslie writes : " There is no difficulty in
obtaining land in this district. The proprietors would be glad
to let or sell land if suitable applicants could be found and a
fair and reasonable price offered . . . The Aberdeen County
Council advertised some years ago for applicants to take up
small holdings or allotments, and very few applied. These were
on investigation found undesirable." Mr. Christie (Factor,
Strathdon) writing on behalf of Mr. A. Strachan, says : " Small
holdings or allotments can only form a partial remedy for rural
depopulation, and a poor one at the best. While they might prove
successful in the immediate neighbourhood of towns or growing
villages, where tradesmen and others might by the cultivation
of such allotments, add to their incomes, such holdings would
never have the effect of bringing the people back to the land.
In upland districts, in our glens and straths, small holdings
will not induce young men to return to the country . . .
If it were not for the feeling of independence that the posses-
sion of a farm or croft creates, men would be far better off
financially if employed as servants." Mr. Bruce holds a dif-
ferent opinion. He says : "I believe there is a general want
of small holdings in Aberdeenshire ; in proof of this I have
only to mention the fact that for crofts and small farms the
applicants are so numerous that the demand cannot be supplied.
I am of opinion that the scarcity of such holdings has materially
contributed to the decline of the agricultural population."

BANFF. — Mr. Livingstone writes : " There is great difficulty
in getting small holdings or allotments, but I think sanitary
laws have a good deal to do with it. New houses were de-
manded by inspectors where I can prove that repairs at a third
of the cost would have made comfortable homes and all the
people wanted at a moderate rent. I am a strong advocate of
crofts, say cows-keep for labourers and some farm-servants, but
then they should be at least 20 acres so that there could be
work for the tenant and proper training of the family, if any."

Mr. Bruce states that allotments and very small holdings are
not desired, but that holdings of 10 to 20 acres, on which a
family can be brought up, ought to be encouraged.

BERWICK. — There is a great demand for holdings of 100 to
200 or 300 acres, such as a man and his family can work with-
out much hired labour, and for these, higher rents are offered

Small
Holdings

and
Allotments.

80

Small

Holdings

and

Allotments.

than for larger holdings of the same quality. The expense
entailed in making roads, putting up buildings, fences, &c.,
hinders any increase in the number.

Dr. Shirra Gribb considers that there is no demand for hold-
ings under 100 to 150 acres, except in limited areas near some
of the larger villages, and none at all for allotments.

ELGIN. — Mr. Muirhead states that no difficulty is experienced
in obtaining land for the purposes named.

FIFE. — There is always a demand for small farms from about
50 to 100 acres, especially near populous centres. These are let
at higher rents than larger farms. There is no demand for
small holdings or allotments. If there were, there might be
some difficulty in obtaining them, but it is not considered that
this has contributed to the decline in population. Mr. Millar
remarks that a small holding entails constant hard work, as the
occupier cannot afford to buy improved machinery.

FORFAR. — Mr. Kydd writes : u I do not consider there would
be any difficulty in obtaining land for small holdings, provided
that the buildings obstacle could be got over, and I do not see
that this can be arranged without State assistance. In one
parish in my district, Carmyllie, there are a very large number
of small holdings, but the land is poor and the climate late and
cold. I am perfectly convinced that small holdings would
be an immense boon 1o the district and to the whole country,
provided these were given on good land and the difficulty men-
tioned were overcome. They would give an incentive to the
best class of farm servants to be persevering in their work and
saving in their wages, and the young persons reared on such
holdings would give farmers occupying large farms a better
class of farm 'servants. Of allotments I think nothing, as
these can only be occupied by tenants doing work for outside
employers part of their time, which is not obtainable in this
district." Mr. Duncan states that difficulty is experienced in
obtaining land for small holdings, but there *is not now the
same demand on account of the low price of produce.

HADDINGTON. — Mr. Shields states that no difficulty has been
experienced in obtaining land when urgently required, say, for
market garden purposes near towns. Mr. Hope writes : " There
are practically no small holdings or allotments in this county,
and never have been ; no doubt if there were it would be
beneficial, and would encourage men to keep on at farm work
in the hope of eventually getting a small holding for them-
selves."

KINCARDINE. — On the whole there appears to be little or no
difficulty in getting land for the purposes named, but there
is great difficulty in getting the necessary buildings provided.
Mr. Brown writes : " There is no doubt that if there were more
small holdings, allotments, or small farms there would be a
tendency for labourers to remain on the land,"

81

KINROSS. — Mr. Tod states there is no difficulty. No one, lie Small
says, wishes to engage in land holding. Holdings

and
LINLITHGOW. — Mr. Grlendinning states that there is no special Allotments.

demand for small holdings, unless close to big centres of popu-
lation, and that this cannot, therefore, "be held to have
accounted for the decline.

MIDLOTHIAN. — There is said to be no demand for small
holdings.

PEEBLES. — Mr. Ritchie states that, practically, small hold-
ings cannot be got. Wealthy proprietors will not, and poor
proprietors cannot supply the necessary buildings. Mr. Con-
stable is of opinion that an increase in the number of small
holdings, sufficiently large to keep a family, would be bene-
ficial, but states that he has not heard of any demand for
allotments.

PERTH. — Mr. Craig writes: " There is difficulty in getting
small holdings in this part of the country. iSmall farms, as a
rule, let well, and there is no doubt if a certain number of these
were created, either on the hill or arable land, they would soon
find occupants. The class of men, however, who would take these
farms are not those who are anxious to get employment in
towns, but the (thriftier farm bailiffs, ploughmen, shepherds,
and the sons of small farmers, who are at any rate likely to
remain in the country. They would, however, be more likely
to stick to country life if there were a prospect of farming, and
especially of owning land on their own account." Mr.
McDiarmid states that in his district there is no great desire
for small holdings, and that in two townships the number has
declined from 20 to 13 and from 8 or 9 to 2, respectively, since
1881. Mr. Hutcheson observes that there is not much demand
for small holdings unless for fruit growing, &c. He considers
that anything smaller than a farm employing one or two pairs
of horses would be useless for growing ordinary crops.

In the case of allotments, Mr. Craig says : " They have not
been a success in this quarter. The artisan or other workman
holding land which is not sufficient to take up his whole time
and attention has usually farmed his allotment badly and soon
tired of it."

ROXBURGH. — There is said to be great difficulty in obtaining
small holdings, mainly owing to the expense of providing
buildings. At the same time, it is not thought that the want of
either small holdings or allotments has contributed to the
either small holdings or allotments has contributed to the de-
cline. Mr. Smith writes : " It is very desirable that there should
be more small farms of not less than 100 acres. These would
employ a man, his son, and two daughters. At present these
small farms are limited, and those stewards and shepherds who
have capital of from £500 to £1,000 are either unable to get
such farms or are forced to pay exorbitant rents, There are
25176 F

Small
Holdings

and
Allotments.

many saving families whom the small farm would place in a
position of independence, and if any means could be found for
increasing these small farms, I feel sure they would be found
a benefit and a ^source of strength to the country. For holdings
of a smaller size the district is unsuited. There is not a market
for garden produce, and anything less in the way of tillage
land than would maintain a pair of horses would be conducive
to poverty rather than wealth."

SELKIRK. — Mr. Elliot writes : "I have been a member of the
Small Holdings Committee of the County Council for many
years, and I am not aware of a single application coming before
that Committee for land either for small holdings or allotments.
This, indeed, is not to be wondered at, as the agricultural
labourer with a wage (including his house, garden, &c.) of 22s.
a week and without any responsibilities is in a very different
position from what any small holder could possibly be in the
county."

Mr. Linton writes : ;' There are a number of small holdings
in this district and a ready demand when any are vacant. A t
the same time the nature of the soil and distance from markets
hinder them being profitable. The want of such may con-
tribute in a small degree to the decline in agricultural popu-
lation." He remarks that the expense of building stands in
the way of any increase of small holdings on commercial lines.
" The old style of cottage," he says, "might be put up for £!•">
or £20, not counting labour, whereas the present class of house,
as built by the principal landowner in the district, cannot be
put up under £200 or £250, the better style costing £400 or
£500; and one built lately for a farm steward cost nearly
£800." As regards the economic status of the small
holder, Mr. Linton observes : "It seems proved by experience
that from 5 to 10 acres of arable land with a few sheep besides
on a hill grazing is not enough for a man with a family to live
upon. Within the last fifty years, land products have declined
very much in value, while wages of farm labourers have some-
thing like doubled, in the case of tradesmen nearly trebled,
It is therefore impossible to expect that men in small holdings
can be satisfied with the conditions which obtained forty or
fifty years ago."

DIVISION VII.

Counties of Argyll, Ayr, Bute, Caithness, Dumbarton, Dumfries,
Inverness, Kirkcudbright, Lanark, Orkney, Renfrew, Ross
and Cromarty, Shetland, Stirling, Sutherland and Wigtown.

ARGYLL. — There is said to be little demand for allotments
or small holdings, and no difficulty in getting land where
required. Mr. Andrew, referring particularly to Mid-Argyll,
writes : " Although the demand for smaller holdings, as they
at present exist, is greater than for the larger, still I do not

83

think that any urgency for obtaining more land for small hold-
ings has arisen amongst the population in (this district/' Mr.
Campbell writes : " I know of crofts unlet though the
houses on the same crofts find tenants. I know of farms that
cannot be let even though the owners have advertised their
willingness to cut them up into small holdings. On the other
hand, I know that in crofting districts there is 'always a
certain number of cotters or squatters who desire land, but
their desire is for land in the immediate vicinity of where they
live." 'The principal difficulties in the way of the provision of
further small holdings appear to be : —

(1) That unless a whole farm is taken, the remaining portion
is depreciated in value, the sporting rental also is depreciated
or disappears.

(2) The expense of the necessary buildings and fences, the
existing buildings being more or less useless.

AYR. — There is said to be no demand for allotments. Nearly
all married servants have gardens sufficiently large to satisfy
their requirements. Small holdings, Mr. Hannah states, are
plentiful and are keenly competed for. Mr. Sloan observes
that a better class of cottage with small garden is undoubtedly
required for the agricultural labourers.

CAITHNESS. — Mr. Miller writes : " There is a difficulty in
obtaining small holdings, and the expense as to allotments is
prohibitory, as well as {he procedure. The climate and soil
as well as the absence of good markets may lead to their non-
adoption, except in the close neighbourhood of towns and
villages, where the older men might find employment suited to
them." Mr. Davidson states that allotments are not in favour,
as they will not support a family and hinder the occupier
from getting the chance of remunerative pay elsewhere.

DUMFRIES. — There does not appear to be any particular desire
for allotments or small holdings. Mr. Waugh writes : " No
applications have come before the County Council. Neverthe-
less, small farms are greedily wanted and taken." Dr. Gillespie
writes : " I have lived in the county all my days, being now
70 years of age. Whereas for long ploughmen and cottars
cultivated their gardens diligently so as to get a maximum
return from them, I observe that many such gardens are now
left uncultivated or cultivated in a very perfunctory manner.
When small holdings (i.e., of 20 acres and upwards) of a desir-
able class are offered to be let, there is invariably a good
demand for them. As far as I know, there have been no
applications for small holdings where the applicant wishes to
equip them with buildings, where these are already provided
the holdings are appreciated and sought after. There is a
desirable gradation in the size of farms in Dumfries."

INVERNESS. — Mr. Cran writes: "There is no difficulty in
obtaining small holdings in high altitudes, but few allotments

25176

F 2

84

are available, and the small holdings have not been a great
success. Wliat is wanted by small farmers and crofters especi-
ally, is ownership of the land they occupy." Mr. Cameron
states that it is .undoubtedly difficult for young men who
wish to marry and settle 011 the West Coast to obtain land for
small holdings, but adds, that with the conventional require-
ments of modern life there is no prospect of small tenants
being able to make an adequate living .at the present low prices
of produce. Small holdings, he says, do well as homes from
which to go in quest of work to the centres of population and
industry, but will not support a family in comfort. Mr.
Wilson writes : " Yes ; the difficulties have been almost insur-
mountable. Hundreds of families applied to the four parish
councils of the district, and those councils did their duty, but
the Inverness County Council blocked the applications, with
the result that the cottars of South Uist, Barra, and North Uist
took forcible possession of the large farms, which led to the
Congested Districts Board being brought into being and to the
purchase of lands in Barra. The present proprietor of North
TTist has done a great deal of good in settling labourers on
holdings." Both the Harris proprietors, Mr. Wilson states,
have been giving land to agricultural labourers for over
20 years, but this is not the case in South Uist, where not a
single allotment or small holding has been obtained under the
Acts, although the parish councils fought for years on behalf
of the labourers.

KIRKCUDBRIGHT. — Mr. McDowall states that small holdings
could be obtained if required, but there is no demand, and the
decrease of the agricultural population in his district cannot
be traced to any lack of 'them. Mr. Biggar writes : " There is
a scarcity of small holdings (from 40 to 80 acres), and such
holdings command a higher rate per acre, but the additional
rent does not seem to be sufficient inducement for anyone own-
ing land to increase the number." He states that there is no
demand for allotments.

LANARK. — Mr. Grilchrist (Bellshill) writes : " There has been
no demand that I am aware of for small holdings or 'allotments,
and I do not believe that either would be successful in the
mining districts, as the returns would not equal the wages
received for work in the other industries. The difficulty has
not contributed in any degree to the decline in the agricultural
population." Mr. Scott (Lesmahagow), on the other hand,
states that so far as lie knows there is no land available either
for small holdings or allotments, and he has no doubt this has
contributed to the decline. He writes : " If land could be had
for small holdings accompanied by some scheme of financial
assistance in the shape of loans at moderate interest, and a
systematic and combined method of dealing with and market-
ing the produce, I believe the demand for such holdings
would be great and their success assured, and that a great
increase of a sturdy and healthy class of population would

85

ensue." Mr. Speir (Newton) writes: " Allotments are not in
request in this district, but for farms giving employment for
one pair of horses there are 10 or 20 applicants for every one
which is vacant. At one time the merging of such farms into
larger ones contributed towards the depopulation of the rural
districts, but that was anterior to the period under review."

ORKNEY. — Mr. McLennan writes : " There are a very large
number of small holdings in this county, and a very consider-
able number of them are owned by the occupiers. While there
is no difficulty in obtaining waste land for small holdings or
allotments, there is a difficulty, as a matter of course, in getting
good arable land for that purpose, there not being any con-
siderable proportion of the land occupied by tenants paying
over £100 of rent in this county. The difficulty of obtaining
small holdings no doubt contributed to a small extent to the
decline in the agricultural population, but I will give the fol-
lowing statistics to compare one parish (Harray), where almost
the whole land is in the occupation of small owners, with
another parish (St. Andrews), where the occupiers are all
tenants, the holdings in both being pretty much of the same
size : —

Small
Holdings

and
Allotments.

Population.

Rental

1881.

1891.

1901.

£

Harray

1,731

745

735

676

St. Andrews ...

1,975

828

75G

742

Mr. Watt states that there have been no applications for small
holdings on his side of the county, though land might be
obtained.

RENFREW. — Mr. Pollock writes : " There is no evident desire
for small holdings in this industrial county."

Ross AND CROMARTY. — Mr. Mackenzie states that on a
neighbouring estate a number of the crofters are emigrating
to Canada, and there is no demand for the vacated crofts.
Mr. Reid writes : " The demand for small holdings has passed
away very much in the ]N"orth of Scotland. Some small hold-
ings in the west are vacant, this being the case where £100
or £200 is required to take over the sheep-stock."

Mr. Fletcher also states that no great difficulty is experi-
enced in obtaining land.

Small
Holdings

and
Allotments.

SHETLAND. — Mr. Anderson does not think there is any
difficulty in obtaining land either for allotments or small hold-
ings.

STIRLING. — Mr. Drysdale states that there is little demand
for small holdings in his district, but that there would be no
difficulty in getting land if there were a prospect of a man
and his family making a decent living on it. No applications
for allotments have been made to the county or parish councils
in the district. In many cases married farm-servants are
neglecting to cultivate the garden plots attached to their
dwelling-houses. Mr. Malcolm writes as follows : " There is
a difficulty in obtaining small holdings as there are few in the
county. No small holding could be made to keep a man and
family or even to pay if it was not large enough to
require a pair of horses to work it. This would require, say,
from 40 to 50 acres. The man would require to work the
holding with the assistance of his family, and even then it
would be a hard struggle. The principal difficulty in getting
holdings of this size would be the house and farm buildings. A
landlord might consent to break up large farms, but, say, a
sum of £800 was required for the buildings, this at 5 per cent,
would mean a first charge of £40 yearly. Then as most of the
land here is rented about 30s. per acre, a 40-acre holding would
be worth £60 yearly; adding the £40, it would mean £100
yearly rent. Another point to consider is that to stock this
small holding £10 per acre is required, and few labourers ever
save £400. No one could expect a labourer to want a small
holding and pay £100 rent, if by going to Canada he can get
160 acres free. I know I could never advise an industrious
man to stay in Scotland and slave to pay a heavy rent and as
heavy taxes."

WIGTOWN.— Mr. Ealston writes : " Allotments are more
numerous within recent years, and the demand for them still
continues. Small holdings, at one time numerous, have been
gradually absorbed by large farms. This is accounted for in
some measure by landlords being unwilling to keep up expen-
sive buildings on small places, the interest on them often
swallowing more than the rent, but many small holdings have
been given up through the inability of the holders to exist.
The want of a number of these holdings may have some effect
in contributing to the decline in population." Mr. McMaster
states that no difficulty has been experienced in getting allot-
ments. When an applicant has failed to obtain such by
voluntary agreement with the proprietor, the County Council
has invariably secured what was required on satisfactory
terms. There has been, he states, no demand for small hold-
ings.

4. The Census figures record the population on the Temporary
1st of April. Can you say whether the number of and
Labourers temporarily employed on the land at par-
ticular seasons, e.g., for corn harvest, fruit-picking,
hop-picking, &G., has declined to a greater or less
extent than the resident labourers during the past
10 and 20 years respectively?

ENGLAND.

DIVISION I.

(a.) Counties of Bedford, Huntingdon, Cambridge^ Su/olk^
Hertford, Middlesex and London.

BEDFORD. — The decline in temporary labourers is stated to
be quite equal to, if not greater than, that of resident labourers,
owing to the great improvement of harvesting machinery.

HUNTINGDON. — Labourers temporarily employed in corn
harvest have declined to a greater extent .than the resident
labourers, i(n consequence of the greater use made of
machinery. The increased growth of vegetables and celery in
the Ramsey district has created a greater demand for labour
during the spring and autumn.

CAMBRIDGE. — In the corn-growing districts casual labour is
not now required at harvest, and has consequently declined
far more than the resident population. Mr. West, however,
writes : "I should say that never were there so many people
employed in fruit-picking and potato-lifting as at the present
time."

CAMBRIDGE (!SLE OF ELY). — ^With the increased use of
machinery the immigrant labourers have greatly declined, and
Irishmen appear to have ceased to come. At the same time
it is considered that the extra labour would not now be obtain*
able even if it were urgently required.

SUFFOLK. — Temporary labour has declined to a great extent*
largely owing to the general use of selfwinding reaping
machines ; it is now quite exceptional for a farmer to engage
men for harvest work, other than those regularly employed on
the land.

ESSEX. — Owing to the use of binding reapers there is prac-
tically no extra labour now employed for harvesting, and such
labour has declined very much more than the resident labour.
Mr. Grlenny remarks that there has been abundant casual labour

88

Temporary in Essex during the last seven years, whereas previously

and workers were often scarce in the summer. Mr. McMillan, on

Migratory the other hand, says that in his locality (Ingatestonej it is

Labour. almost impossible to get extra hands other than " unfits " at

special seasons and that a regular staff has to be kept all the

year round.

HERTFORD. — Temporary labour has declined more than the
resident labour, and few men now seek work at harvest ; at the
same time the introduction of machinery has lessened the
need for them. Mr. Milne observes -that the only time when
any quantity of casual labour is required is during the potato
harvest. Ten years ago the greater number required could be
got from the neighbouring villages, but the extra work is now
done by casual labourers who come round after the hop-picking
season is over in other places and who are put up in temporary
buildings for the short time the work lasts.

MIDDLESEX. — -Mr. Lobjoit writes : " It has been the practice
here for many years to employ women from Shropshire for the
fruit-picking. They come early in June and remain until
August. During the cherry season a good many men come
out of Bucks, and in the summer men also come from Beds
and Oxford for hoeing in the market gardens. I think all
these have declined in numbers in recent years in this part of
Middlesex."

(b.) Counties of Norfolk, Lincoln and York (East Riding).

NORFOLK. — The advent of the self-binder has caused fewer
men to be required at harvest than formerly, and there are
now practically no immigrant labourers.

LINCOLN. — In Holland Irishmen still come for the corn
harvest, and it is not thought that any fewer hands are em-
ployed. Mr. West is of opinion that the number of labourers
temporarily employed has increased rather than otherwise.
Mr. Morton says that the decrease is not greater amongst
temporary labourers, but that owing to the use of self-binding
reapers 50 per cent, fewer men are required for harvest work.

In Lindsey there is a division of opinion. It is agreed that
owing to the use of machinery far fewer hands are now required
at harvest, but while Major Browne thinks temporary labour
has decreased to a greater extent than resident labour, Mr.
Tindall thinks the decline is nothing like so great. The
extension of potato-growing has occasioned an increase of
temporary labour in the summer, and more especially in
October.

YORK (EAST RIDING). — Beyond turnip-hoeing, harvest, and
io a small extent potato-growing, little casual labour is re-
quired ; the self -binder has lessened the demand for harvesters.

89

DIVISION II.

(a.) Counties of Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Berks and Hants. Temporary

and

KENT. — Immigrant labour is required for — (1) corn harvest, Migratory
(2) fruit-picking, (3) hop-picking. Labour.

As regards the first, the numbers have declined with the
decreased area under corn, and machinery is so much used that
little extra labour is required.

Fruit-picking gives more employment in proportion to the
increased area under fruit.

The number of hop-pickers employed is largely dependent
on the amount of the crop, which is most variable.

SURREY. — The number of temporary labourers has greatly
declined, owing not only to the laying down of grass, but to
the almost universal use of the self-binder. Mr. Whitley
writes : " Nine years ago self-binders were rare here, now they
are common; their advent seems to be another reason for
stopping the sowing of land to grass, and makes it possible to
so arrange that the permanent staff can manage the farms
throughout the year without much temporary labour; this
policy is slowly gaining ground."

SUSSEX. — The decrease of the corn area and the use of im-
proved machinery have led to a great diminution in the number
of casual labourers employed ; very few Irish .hands now come
for the corn harvest. Mr. Drewitt thinks the decline has been
much greater than amongst the ordinary farm labourers, owing
to the great rise of wages in towns. Mr. Grant, on the other
hand, considers that the supply of temporary labourers in pro-
portion to the land in cultivation is about the same. Mr.
Chandler thinks that, although there has been a decrease in
casual labour, employment during hay-making increases four
or five times, and during corn harvest twice in numbers.

BERKSHIRE. — Very few temporary labourers are now em-
ployed, except for picking fruit. The extra work at hay time
and harvest is accomplished with the help of machinery by the
permanent hands, who work overtime at these seasons. Mr.
Lousley is of opinion that not half the labourers are now re-
quired that were needed 25 years ago.

HAMPSHIRE. — While the increasing use of machinery for
haymaking and harvesting has caused a decline in casual
labour, yet, 011 the other hand, fruit-picking employs a great
many more than formerly.

(b.) Counties of Nottingham, Leicester, Rutland, Nortkampto^^
Buckingham, Oxford and Warwick.

NOTTINGHAM. — Mr. Smith writes : " Thirty years ago numer-
ous gangs of Irish and Derbyshire harvest men were employed,
but chiefly owing to the use of reaping machines and binders

and

Migratory

Labour.

90

Temporary very few come now. Not rnuck female labour is now employed,
and that chiefly for picking green peas. At the present time I
have plenty of regular labour, but fhere is not much surplus
labour to be had." Mr. Beard, also, says that it is more
difficult to obtain temporary labourers for corn and hay harvest
than it is to get resident labourers.

LEICESTER. — Mr. Longwill states that fewer Irish labourers
come over than was the case twenty years ago, binders and
other labour-saving implements being used. Mr. Bassett thinks
there has been no great change in temporary employment.

RUTLAND. — The only extra labour required is for the corn
and -hay 'harvests, and this has declined owing to the use of
machinery, though probably not to a greater extent than the
resident population.

NORTHAMPTON. — Casual labour is only required for the corn
and hay harvests, and has declined to some extent in conse-
quence of the increased use of machinery. Mr. Griffin states
that in the Peterborough district the .number of temporary
labourers has declined to a greater extent than the residents.

BUCKINGHAM.— Fewer men come for the hay and corn
harvests than used to be the case, the use of machinery renders
them unnecessary.

OXFORD. — The general opinion is that temporary labour has
declined to an even greater extent than the resident popula-
tion, owing chiefly to the widespread use of machinery.

. — It is thought that temporary labour for
harvest and hay-making has decreased to as great or an
even greater extent than the resident labour, owing to the use
of improved machinery. Mr. Graves says : " Mowing machines
and self-binders have reduced the hay and corn harvests to a
mere nothing, many only going for a fortnight in fine weather."
Mr. Lane, however, states that more casual labourers are em*
ployed than formerly because country-bred young men have
gone to the towns, and farmers make what use they can in the
busy seasons, of unskilled assistance.

DIVISION III.

(a.) Counties of Salop) Worcester^ Gloucester, Wilts, Montnontk

and Hereford.

SALOP. — The decline amongst temporary labourers has
apparently been greater than in the case of the resident
population, chiefly owing to the increased use of improved
machinery. Mr. Thursfield writes : " I used to employ 100
harvest men, now the ordinary farm labourers do it all. A

Migratory
Labour

few Irish come for task or piece work. There should be more Temporary
payment by results ; it would keep the men on the farms more
than anything else, make them more contented, and be to the
advantage of the farmer."

WORCESTER. — The employment of men in harvesting has
probably decreased, but the number of casual labourers em-
ployed for fruit and hop-picking is believed to have increased
considerably in the last ten years ; most of these are women
who come from the Black Country. Mr. Wheeler writes : "In
the Teme Yalley, between Tenbury and Stanford, about nine
miles, over 3,000 strangers were employed last September in
hop-picking."

GLOUCESTER. — For corn harvest few extra hands are now
required, owing to the use of machinery. The hop area having
decreased, fewer pickers are employed, but the labour is sought
after and wages are good.

WILTSHIRE. — Improved machinery, either as a cause or a
result of a diminished supply of casual labour, is now widely
used. " Strappers " and Irishmen formerly taken on as extra
hands have entirely disappeared. Mr. Squarey, however,
remarks: "Small tradesmen, occupiers of small holdings,
soldiers on leave, woodmen, and others frequently assist in
getting in the corn and hay harvests, turnip-hoeing, &c. The
strawberry industry temporarily employs an immense number
of women and children drawn from the small towns near which
the industry flourishes."

MONMOUTH. — Mr. Williams writes : " I think casual
labourers of any use to farmers have declined in numbers more
than the regular labourers, owing in some degree to the scarcity
of cottages, all of which are caught up by the regular
labourers. There is a tendency on the part of the labourer
who rents his own cottage to take to casual work. Of course,
we have plenty of tramps, but they rarely work more than a
day. A few men brought up in rural districts who have gone
to the iron and coal works have been in the habit of coming
back for haytime and harvest, but they are a lessening number.
Fruit is not grown so as to employ labour, except in rare
instances and generally near towns; very little of the land is
adapted for it. There is some fruit-picking in the orchards
of North Monmouthshire which used to be done by women, but
no women work now, and the boys are at school until nearly
old enough to go to urban work."

HEREFORD. — Mr. Riley considers that more labourers are
employed for the various harvests, but for a shorter time.
Many are employed in fruit and hop-picking, the number thus
engaged depends upon the size of the crops, but has probably
declined less than the resident population. On stock-breeding
farms very few casual labourers are now required.

92

Temporary

and

Migratory
Labour.

(b.) Comities of Somerset, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall.

SOMERSET. — The use of machinery is thought to have had a
greater effect on the temporary than on the permanent labour.
The migratory labourers from Devonshire and Ireland who used
to come for harvesting are (according to Mr. Gibbons) never
seen now; when extra labourers are required in the summer
it is a matter of difficulty to obtain them.

DORSET. — Labourers temporarily, employed are believed to
have declined to a greater extent than the resident population,
owing to the largely increased use of machinery.

DE,VON. — In the north of the county few extra labourers are
employed. In the south, Mr. Chamier (Exmouth) thinks that
the decline has been greater, while Mr. Franklin (Cullompton)
considers it has been less, in the case of temporary labour than
in the resident population.

CORNWALL. — Casual labour has declined to an even greater
extent than the permanent labour. Improved machinery now
enables the farmers to do their harvesting with the ordinary
staff. Mr. Richards writes : " Casual labourers are most diffi-
cult to obtain. Many small farmers have consequently had to
make a large capital outlay on self-binders and other expensive
implements."

DIVISION IV.

(a.) Counties of Northumberland^ Durham, York (Xort/i Riding)
and York ( West Riding).

NORTHUMBERLAND. — The corn harvest was formerly the prin-
cipal occasion of the employment of temporary labour. IN^ow,
however, owing to diminished cultivation and the introduction
of the self-binder, the demand for harvesters has very largely
fallen off, probably to an even greater extent than with the
resident labourers. Mr. Marshall writes : "In this part of the
Tyne valley, where the corn area is practically the same as it
was fifty years since, 40, 50, or 60 people might at that time be
seen reaping; twenty years ago two reaping machines with
20 hands were doing as much; now two binders with half-a-
dozen men accomplish the same work. Perhaps (he adds) more
haymeu and turnip-hoers are needed."

DURHAM. — Temporary labour has declined in proportion to
the smaller extent of crops grown, and possibly also on account
of the use of improved machinery for harvesting, potato-
digging, &c. On the other hand, it is remarked that resident
labour has been so severely cut out that temporary labour may
have declined either not at all or to a smaller extent than the
former.

93

YORK (NORTH BIDING). — Temporary labour has declined pro- Temporary
bably to a greater extent than resident labour, owing to the
use of improved machinery. Potato-planting and lifting employ
a good many hands in some districts.

YORK (WEST BIDING). — Colonel Maude states that not quite
so many extra hands are hired for haytime, and though some
still command good, and even high, wages, there are far more
inexperienced ones, who are of little use. He adds:
" Formerly occasional labourers, both married and single, lived
in most of our villages, and made a good living by employ-
ment at certain periods on the land, such as in lambing time,
or for manure loading, haymaking, salving sheep in the
autumn, relaying hedges, building or repairing walls, quarry-
ing stones, draining, &c., but since the agricultural depression
became so acute neither farmers nor landowners have had
money to spare for extra work that cannot be done by the ordi-
nary farm staff, and so these occasional men have all gTadu-
ally drifted away until there is now great difficulty in getting
casual labour. Mr. Thompson considers that the increased
use of machinery has had a greater effect on temporary than
on resident labour.

(b.) Counties of Cumberland, Westmorland, Lancashire, Cheshire,
Derby and Stafford,

CUMBERLAND. — Mr. Watt does not think there has been very
much change in the numbers temporarily employed, except
where land has gone out of cultivation ; he observes that with
fewer " day " labourers in a district there is sometimes a
difficulty in getting all the hands required for such work as
hay and corn harvesting. Mr. Dobson writes : " When
a large area was under cereals a considerable number
of Irish labourers came for the corn harvest; now,
with a smaller area and the universal use of machinery, especi-
ally the self-binder, the usual farm staff is sufficient for the
work." Mr. Shanks remarks that most of the extra labour
required for thinning turnips, weeding, &c., is done by school
children during holidays.

WESTMORLAND. — Mr. Wakeficld considers that temporary
labourers have declined to a greater extent than permanent
labourers, but remarks that in either case the men were for the
most part resident in the neighbourhood. Mr. Punchard writes :
" There has of late years been a great decline in the number
of non-resident labourers who have sought work in the county
during hay-time and harvest. Formerly many Irishmen used
to turn up on these occasions, but now very few are seen ; so
much so that in one district self -binding reapers are now to be
found on almost every farm."

LANCASHIRE. — The use of machinery, such as self-binders,
potato-diggers, &c., is held by some to have caused a greater

94

Temporary decline amongst temporary labourers than in the resident

and population; other correspondents, however, hold a different
Migratory opinion.
Labour.

CHESHIRE. — Mr. Ravenshaw considers that temporary
labourers have declined during the last twenty years to a
greater extent than the resident labourers, on account of the
use of machinery and implements. Mr. Beecroft writes : " I
do not think there are many less labourers employed in this
district during harvest. I find with the assistance of machinery
that fully as many men are required as previously, the produce
being moved much more quickly than in the past ; this being
so, it requires more men to deal with it in such ways that
machinery cannot be applied." Mr. Davies writes : " The
Cheshire practice is to employ Irishmen for corn harvest,
potato-planting, and raising; we obtain sufficient Irish now,
but, no doubt, fewer are required than 25 years ago. Only in
one small area in Cheshire are any casual or itinerant fruit-
pickers required."

DERBY. — Mr. Waite observes that in 1873 the Irish labourers
who came to the country for harvest were six times more
numerous than at the present time.

STAFFORD. — Mr. Carrington Smith writes : " There is a con-
siderable decline in the number of harvest labourers, chiefly
Irish. First the scythe gave way to the mowing machine and
afterwards the sickle to the reaping machine. By the help of
other machinery and by the increase of manual work done by
the farmer's family, both the larger breadth of hay and the
smaller breadth of corn are gathered mainly by the permanent
staff." Captain Levett states that it is difficult to get casual
labour, and that the Irish harvester has almost entirely dis-
appeared durin.ar Ihe last few years.

WALES.

DIVISION V.

ANGLESEY. — The number of men required for harvest is
stated to be much smaller owing to the use of mowing machines
and reapers.

BRECON. — It is not considered that labourers temporarily
employed have declined to any greater extent than the others
during the past twenty years.

CARDIGAN. — Temporary labourers are now but little em-
ployed, and have probably declined to a greater extent than
the resident labourers. Some who have obtained suitable

95

cottages for their families work at the coal mines for eleven
months and spend the other month with their families, helping
in the harvest.

CARMARTHEN. — Temporary labour is thought to have declined
similarly to resident labour. Mr. Drummond observes : " Out-
side labour was always short, the farmers depending on each
others help when necessary."

CARNARVON. — Mr. Roberts writes: "The number of labourers
temporarily employed for the corn harvest declined rapidly
from 1881 to 1891 and steadily from the latter date to 1898, and
since then up to the last harvest they could not be got locally at
any price. Now the farmers are dependent upon the men living
in the cottages on the farms, or the servants engaged for six
months who are single and get their board and lodging on the
premises."

DENBIGH. — The decline is believed to have been greater in
the case of temporary labourers. Yery few are now required
except for corn harvest.

GLAMORGAN. — Extra labourers when wanted are very difficult
to obtain. Yery few, however, are now employed, the hay
and corn crops being secured with the aid of machinery. Mr.
Forrest writes : " Each binder saves eight men and each trusser
four; there is also the hay-loader, pitch-fork, and swath-
turner, all have lessened the demand for casual labour at
harvest time. Labour on root-hoeing, too, is less."

MERIONETH. — Labourers for corn harvest have declined, as a
good deal of land has been laid down to grass.

MONTGOMERY. — Temporary labourers have probably declined
in about the same ratio as the resident population. These
occasional hands for hay and corn harvest, turnip-hoeing, &c.,
have been displaced by the more frequent use of .machinery.

PEMBROKE. — The use of implements and machinery, espe-
cially in hay and corn harvest, has become so general, that
these are now looked upon as little more than the ordinary
work of the farm, and require but a small amount of outside
help. The decline in temporary labourers is stated to have
been much less during the last ten years than during the
previous ten.

96
SCOTLAND.

DIVISION VI.

Temporary Counties of Aberdeen, Ban/, Berwick, Clackmannan, Elgin, Fife,
-»j. ^n, Forfar, H adding ton, Kincardine, Kinross, Linlithgow, Mid-

Labour. lothian, Nairn, Peebles, Perth, Roxburgh and Selkirk.

ABERDEEN. — Labourers employed at harvest have declined,
partly owing to the high rate of wa-ges and partly to a lessened
demand owing to the use of machinery.

BANFF. — Mr. Livingstone writes : " There has been less
difficulty in getting harvest hands for the past year or two,
but fewer are required now since binders are used, and it
depends, too, whether or not the harvest is likely to commence
before the herring fishery is finished."

BERWICK. — It is stated that the number of Irish harvest
labourers has greatly declined, owing 'to the perfecting of
harvest machinery.

ELGIN. — The introduction of self-binding reapers has ap-
parently had the effect of reducing the number of labourers
temporarily employed during harvest.

FIFE. — The operations for which temporary labour is re-
quired are the corn and potato harvests, turnip-thinning, and
turnip-pulling. As there is a scarcity of female labour, the
number of those 'temporarily employed at these times may,
it is thought, be slightly increased, but the seasons are now
very much shortened. Owing to greatly improved machinery,
the harvest is finished in shorter time with about the same
number of people as ten years ago, but a good many fewer
than twenty years ago.

FORFAR. — Mr. Duncan states that harvest labourers have
declined to an even greater extent than resident labourers.
Mr. Hume, also, says that the number has declined enormously
during the last 10 or 20 years. " Nowadays," he writes, "the
use of self-binders, &c., has practically done away with at
least three-fourths of the extra staff that used to be required
for harvesting operations."

HADDINGTON. — Mr. Shields considers that casual labourers
for harvest have decreased to a greater extent than the resident
labourers during the last ten years, but that prior to that date
the reverse was the case. Mr. Hope observes that many Irish-
men are employed at turnip-thinning and potato-lifting.

KINCARDINE. — Owing to the use of harvesting machinery, it-
is considered that temporary labour has declined to quite as
great an extent as the resident population during the past
twenty years.

97

KINROSS. — Mr. Tod writes : " Labour at harvest time has
declined to a much greater extent than during the rest of the
year. Formerly, farmers had to employ many extra hands
during harvest ; now, by the aid of binders, they can save the
crop with the ordinary farm hands."

LINLITHGOW. — Labourers temporarily employed are stated to
have declined to a greater extent than the resident labourers.
Mr. Glendinning writes: " Self -delivery reapers and binders
and labour-saving implements account for a considerable re-
duction of women workers and casual labourers; whilst the
system largely adopted of selling potatoes by the acre to
merchants, who lift them with their own staff, accounts for
a further reduction."

MIDLOTHIAN. — Owing to the use of improved machinery a
good deal of labour is now dispensed with at harvest. There
is great difficulty in obtaining women workers, but their place
is now largely taken by Irishmen who come to thin or single
turnips and remain on to the end of harvest or, in some cases,
for potato-lifting.

PEEBLES. — Mr. Ritchie thinks that the decline in temporary
labour is about the same as in the resident population and
has been occasioned by the use of machinery and the high
wages expected.

PERTH. — Mr. Craig writes : " The number of labourers tem-
porarily employed on the land at particular seasons has pro-
bably declined to a greater extent than the resident labourers,
as there are now very few extra hands engaged for corn harvest,
owing to the advent of the reaper and binder. Only in the
case of fruit-picking is there any likelihood of an increase of
temporary labour, and whilst this industry is growing in Perth-
shire considerably, there is only a small amount of land under
fruit in this district."

ROXBURGH. — Owing to the introduction of machinery, notably
self-binders, labourers temporarily employed for corn harvest
have decreased very greatly.

SELKIRK. — The decrease in labourers temporarily employed
for harvest, turnips, &c., is, in Mr. Elliot's view, much greater
than in the resident population. He considers the number em-
ployed to be 75 or 80 per cent, less than was the case twenty-
five years ago, and the decline in the employment of drainers,
dykers, &c., is, he states, even more marked. Mr. Linton, who
has lived in Peebles and Selkirk for 70 years and farmed for
fifty, writes : " Men temporarily employed are nearly all from
Ireland, and the season begins in June and July for turnip-
work, followed by harvest in August or September, and finish-
ing with turnips in November and December. I expect there
is little change going on in regard to the numbers employed
on turnip work, but in harvest, the use bf self-binders has
decreased the number employed."

25716 (J

DIVISION VII.

Bounties of Argyll, Ayr, Bute, Caithness, Dumbarton, Dumfries,
Inverness, Kirkcudbright ; Lanark, Orkney, Renfrew, Ross
and Cromarty, Shetland, Stirling, Sutherland and Wigtown.

ARGYLL. — Temporary labour has declined to as great or even
greater an extent than resident labour. Mr. Hunter says:
" Corn harvest and potato-lifting are the only special seasons
here when extra hands are employed." Mr. Martin writes:
*' In Islay there is never any. difficulty in obtaining
occasional harvest labourers or peat-cutters, as so many are
employed in the distilleries here during the distilling season
and are available at harvest time for farm work." Mr. Camp-
bell writes : " Temporary labour is mostly supplied by members
of the families of resident labourers or small holders. It is
difficult to get labour for corn harvest, as the touring and
shooting season is on at the same time."

AYR. — Mr. Hannah writes : " Large numbers of occasional
workers used to be got for farm work during busy seasons
(harvest, potato-planting, gathering, weeding, &c.) from towns
and villages. These engaged themselves at other times in
handloom weaving and such like work. These industries are
now out of date, and in consequence such labourers are now
non-existent. They have been replaced by tramps and people
on the road and out of employment. Large numbers of Irish
labourers, principally girls, come over in June and are engaged
during the three succeeding months. I think the decline is
more among temporary and occasional workers than among
yearly and half-yearly servants."

CAITHNESS. — Mr. Davidson writes : " Corn harvest is the
principal season when we require extra labourers. There is
now not half the number required that was needed twenty years
ago. There is much less land in corn crop now and much more
work is being done by machinery." Mr. Miller observes :
" The women who were formerly employed in summer are now
all taken up with the herring fishery and the men by general
summer labour; the chief local industry however (raising and
preparing flagstones) is now less prosperous, and employs fewer
men."

DUMFRIES. — Temporary labourers have declined to a greater
extent than the resident labour. Mr. Moffat states that they
have almost entirely disappeared. Dr. Gillespie writes:
" Since reaping machines were introduced there have been
comparatively few outsiders coming into the county at par-
ticular seasons to assist in the work of the farm."

INVERNESS. — The labourers temporarily employed have de-
creased in consequence of the diminution in the cultivated area
and the use of improved machinery. Mr. Malcolm considers
the decline to be greater than in the resident population.

99

KIRKCUDBRIGHT.—^^ Biggar states tliat the number of Temporary
labourers temporarily employed for harvest or hay-making has and
decreased to a greater extent than the resident labourers.
Mr. McDowall, however, considers that the decline in the
former is less, the explanation being that in many cases where
land has been laid down to grass, Irish labourers are employed
for six weeks during hay harvest and then paid off to find
employment, probably at the corn harvest. Formerly, when
a large staff was kept on the farm, the whole work of the
farm was carried on by the regular hands.

LANARK. — In the fruit-growing districts the number of
labourers temporarily employed at particular seasons has in-
creased, but in the agricultural districts the number has
decreased to a greater extent than the resident labourers.
Mr. Speir states that in his district the employment of tem-
porary labourers in hay time and harvest has almost ceased.

ORKNEY. — Temporary harvest labourers have declined to
some extent, owing to the use of machinery, in particular the
self-binder. Mr. Watt states that farmers have experienced a
great want of female servants ; these were largely employed
twenty years ago for singling turnips and hay and harvest
work, but now it is almost impossible to obtain their services.
" They prefer," he says, " indoor service of some kind, and if
they cannot get it in the country they go to Kirkwall, Strom-
ness, or south as domestic servants, dressmakers, shop girls,
and quite a number are school teachers." New machinery and
implements have to some extent enabled farmers to do without
them.

RENFREW. — The decline is stated to be about the same as
amongst resident labourers. In some instances fruit-picking
affords more temporary employment.

SHETLAND. — Mr. Anderson writes: "There is very little
variation in the number of labourers temporarily employed
for corn harvest from that for the whole season, because there
is no great extent of arable land on any of the larger farms.
Fruit and hop-picking are unknown here, and temporary
labourers have not declined more than resident labourers."

STIRLING. — The decrease amongst labourers temporarily em-
ployed for harvest has been greater than in the case of resident
labourers, especially during the last ten years, on account of
diminished cultivation and the general use of self-binders and
other machinery.

WIGTOWN. — Harvest is the chief time when extra labourers
are employed, and fewer are now required, there being more
land in grass. Those employed are mostly Irish. Mr. McMaster
considers that the decline is greater than in the resident
labourers. " Great numbers," he writes, " used to come over
from the North of Ireland for corn harvest; now there is
scarcely one for ten who came 20 or 30 years ago.

25176

100

5. To what extent have alterations in the system
of farming- in your district affected the demand for
labour ? Has any particular agricultural industry
such as fruit - farming1, vegetable - growing, poultry
rearing, &c., tended to check the decline in the agri-
cultural population ?

ENGLAND.

DIVISION I.

(a.) Counties of Bedford, Huntingdon, Cambridge, Suffolk, Essex
Hertford, Middlesex and London.

BEDFORD. — In the neighbourhood of Biggleswade, market-
gardening has certainly checked the decline.

HUNTINGDON. — In the Fens the growth of vegetables is be-
coming the predominating feature, and creates a demand for
extra labour at certain seasons. Poultry-rearing is also on the
increase, and greater interest would be taken in it if the price
of eggs were more remunerative and greater facilities given for
carriage to the towns.

CAMBRIDGE. — On some arable farms artificial grass is left
down for two, three or more years, and the labour is propor-
tionately reduced. Most of the county is unsuited for fruit
farming and vegetable growing, but where these are carried
on there has been a check -to the decline in population, in fact,
labour has to be imported to a large extent as the local supply
is inadequate.

CAMBRIDGE (I. OF ELY). — Potato, celery, and vegetable-
growing have increased the demand for labour for nearly the
whole of the year, and this has tended to check the migration
which has been so marked in districts where the soil is not
adapted for this kind of agriculture. Women have almost
ceased to work in the fields, except on special occasions.

SUFFOLK. — On the one hand the changes referred to on p. 87
have tended to decrease the demand for labour; on the other
hand, there is a demand for good horsemen and milkers. Milk
and vegetable production are increasing near towns, and in such
cases the decline has been checked ; many farmers now send
their own carts into the towns and retail from door to door.
Poultry rearing is extending, but involves little increase of
employment.

ESSEX. — Much land has been laid to grass, thus decreasing
the labourers but increasing the demand for stockmen. For
example, Wallasea Island, which employed 60 men (with wives
and children) to grow corn, now employs only eight men to look

101

after stock. The culture of fruit and vegetables pushes farther Changes in
out as the suburbs of London extend, and growers pay high System
wages to competent men. Mr. Rankin remarks that the im- and Special
proved methods of farming in the neighbourhood have increased
rather than decreased the demand for labour.

HERTFORD. — Mr. Milne writes, with special reference to the
Hit chin district : " Potato growing and dairy farming have
been on the increase for a number of years wherever -the land
is suitable, and is within two or three miles of a railway
station; on such farms more workmen are employed, but tak-
ing the district as a whole the number of farm labourers would
be rather less "than 20 years ago ; labour-saving machinery is
used as much as possible. There is very little fruit growing or
market gardening in this district." In the Sawbridge-
worth district, several large industries have arisen,
such as nurseries for grapes, tomatoes, and flowers,
and poultry rearing is considerably on the increase. Mr. Rae
writes : " The large increase of intensive farming under glass,
and also fruit growing, has increased the demand for labour
enormously. Wages have increased quite 25 per cent, during
the past 15 years, and the supply of labour has been drawn
principally from the more rural parts of the county/5

MIDDLESEX AND LONDON. [See under Question 2, p. 33.]

(b.) Counties of Norfolk, Lincoln and York (East Riding).

NORFOLK. — Beyond the laying of land to grass, no particular
alteration in the system of farming is reported as affecting
the demand for labour.

LINCOLN. — In the Holland Division there are many small
occupiers who get a living in growing flowers, fruit, and vege-
tables, and this has greatly, if not altogether checked the
decline in agricultural labour. Over the greater part of the
county, however, there appears to have been little development
in this direction.

YORK (E. RIDING). — Mr. Pearson writes : " Fruit and vege-
table growing and poultry rearing are not on the increase,
though the latter has much improved."

DIVISION II.

(a.) Counties of Kent , Surrey, Sussex, Berks and Hants.

KENT. — Poultry rearing is but little practised in the county.
Fruit growing has extended, and has in a slight degree tended
to check the decline in population. In some districts vege-
table growing requires considerable labour at certain periods,
but hardly affects the agricultural labourers. In Sheppey the
land is too wet and cold for poultry farming or market garden-
ing to any extent.

102

Changes in SURREY. — The increased attention paid to fruit, poultry, &c.,
System kas in Mr. Wkitley's opinion tended somewhat to stem the tide

a«d Special of depopulation, and should do so to a greater extent in future.
les< He adds : " Fruit farming and vegetable growing employ more
labour; some remarkable cases of success in this direction are
to be seen, also a considerable number of failures. Poultry
rearing is too popular with the uninitiated, there being many
cases of failure owing to the fascination that it has for the ex-
townsman; there is still a considerable demand for any place
that can be called by a stretch of the imagination a ' PouHry
farm.' While poultry rearing alone is generally a failure, the
best farmers are adding to their income by attention to it."

SUSSEX. — In some districts, particularly in East Sussex, fruit,
flower, and vegetable growing and poultry rearing have in-
creased. Mr. Haviland writes: "Undoubtedly the chicken-
fattening industry has done a great deal to check the decline in
the agricultural population in Heathfield, Waldron, and War-
bleton, and, in a less degree, in the adjoining parishes."
Mr. Pullen-Burry writes : " There has been up to the last year
or two an immense increase in market gardening and fruit
culture under glass, but this has now ceased, chiefly owing to
foreign competition, and in a measure to over-production. The
earlier produce from abroad undermines our markets so that
instead of beginning at a high price we begin at a low and
gradually rise as the foreigner is cut out ; this has lowered the
value of our early and protected lands. There used to be many
onions grown hereabouts, but cheap foreign labour and low
carriage have quite settled the trade. Instead of any increase
of ' la petite culture ' in this part of the country, there is tak-
ing place a throwing up of land, which, I think, will become
more marked as years pass under present conditions. Market-
garden rents have gone down these last few years by 30 per
cent,"

In the west of the county the conditions appear to be un-
favourable to development in these directions. Mr. Gran I
writes : " The arable land in this district generally is stiff
sanely clay, and is adapted for growing wheat and nothing
else. Grass and roots even when well grown have little feed-
ing value. There has been no increase in any rural industry
in the district except the production of milk for the London
market, but a corn-growing farm converted to a milk-producing
ono would need fewer labourers than before."

BERKSHIRE. — Potato growing has increased in places, but no
particular industry has arisen that would tend to check the
decline in population.

HAMPSHIRE. — Mr. Perkins writes : " Within the past 20 years
there has arisen a flourishing strawberry industry in the dis-
trict between Southampton and Portsmouth ; with it are asso-
ciated vegetable growing and fruit farming. Women and
children turn out in enormous numbers to pick strawberries.

103

The general opiuion obtains that the district is peculiarly suited Changes in
to strawberry culture, but I am not aware that any one has tried System
growing them commercially elsewhere in the county. My anc* Special
impression is that the new industry has not withdrawn labourers _
from ordinary agriculture, but that a new class has been
attracted from the towns. A good many people with a little
capital, and some quite ' well-to-do ' people have come to the
neighbourhood to engage in the industry."

(b.) Counties of Nottingham, Leicester, Rutland, Northampton^
Buckingham, Oxford and Warwick.

NOTTINGHAM. — More vegetables are grown, which leads to
increased casual employment. Poultry rearing is believed to
be increasing, and between Southwell and the Trent it is stated
that fruit growing has extended considerably.

LEICESTER. — Mr. Bassett writes : " Leicestershire is neither
a fruit-farming nor a vegetable-growing county ; poultry rear-
ing and egg producing have increased, but rather as an adden-
dum than as a special industry."

NORTHAMPTON. — Generally speaking, no new agricultural in-
dustries appear to have been established, but in the Soke of
Peterboro' it is stated that potato growing finds occasional em-
ployment for a large number of men, women, and children.

OXFORD. — No new industry appears to have arisen which
would be likely to check the decline in the agricultural popu-
lation.

WARWICK. — Mr. Graves writes : " Farmers in my district are
different from what they used to be, and are men of very little
capital; many have little stock in the land, they sell off hay
and straw, consequently the land is getting poorer each year."
Mr. Lane writes : " Nearer Evesham and Worcester where
fruit and vegetables can be profitably grown on account of the
more suitable climate, there certainly is more demand for
labour, and wages in market gardens are made more attractive."

DIVISION III.

(a.) Counties of Salop, Worcester, Gloucester, Wilts, Monmouth
and Hereford,

SALOP. — Mr. Lee (Ellesmere) writes : " In this district there
has been a rapid growth of the dairy industry, especially
Cheshire cheese making, principally brought about by enter-
prising tenants laying down the strong unworkable arable
land; this change has to a small extent lessened the demand
for labour except for men capable of attending to stock and
willing to milk; such men are scarce and command good
wages." Fruit, vegetable, and poultry farming are only
carried on in a small way and generally in isolated areas.

104

Changes in

System
and Special
Industries.

Mr. Lander says : " Vegetable growing is on the increase in
this district and gives more employment at certain seasons."

WORCESTER. — Mr. Wheeler (Tenbury) writes : " In my im-
mediate neighbourhood where fruit and hop growing have
considerably increased, the demand for labour has also in-
creased, and at times in the summer it is difficult to get a
sufficient supply, the casual tramp being seldom of any use.
But on the poorer land where hop growing is somewhat dying
out and fruit is not cultivated, very little labour is required."

GLOUCESTER,. — The very poor thin arable and also the stiff
clay lands are not cultivated, and carry very little stock ; some
are not well-fenced or watered and thus find little employment
for labour. Pea picking and fruit and vegetable growing have
increased.

WILTSHIRE. — In some districts dairying has extended, in-
creasing the demand for milkers. Mr. Smith considers that
scarcity of labour stimulated the invention of machinery
which has now to some extent permanently displaced hand
labour. Mr. Stevens states that poultry farming is certainly
on the increase but does not affect the labourer in any way.
Mr. Squarey writes: 'The passing of the poorer and heavy
clay land into more or less inferior pasturage, and the adoption
of machinery in every direction have undoubtedly lessened the
demand for manual labour. To a moderate extent, fruit farm-
ing, poultry rearing, and vegetable growing have tended to
keep a certain number of the more energetic and capable men
on the land, where they have had an opportunity >of getting
small hoi d img s . ' '

MONMOUTH. — There is a good demand for hay in the mineral
districts, so that more haymaking is done. There has been a
greater tendency amongst farmers to grow potatoes, cabbage,
fruit, &c., but the change has not been sufficiently marked to
affect the population of the rural districts.

HEREFORD. — The soil and climate are extremely favourable
for fruit growing, and good markets are within easy reach;
in the districts where fruit or hops are cultivated the demand
for labour has not declined so much as in those parts where
corn was formerly grown. Mr. Eiley writes : " I have some
96 acres in fruit of various kinds, and some neighbouring
farmers are now growing strawberries, which largely increases
the demand for labour. In my own case, with intensive
farming, I spent about 305. an acre in labour, but on my fruit
farm I spend nearly <£10 an acre."

(b.) Counties of Somerset, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall.

SOMERSET. — Referring to the effect of machinery in reducing
the demand for labour, Mr. Berry writes : " The harvester does
more thoroughly with 3 horses, 1 man, and 1 boy the same work

that used to be done 'by 2 horses, 6 men, and 1 boy, and in
other things the same has occurred." Of the turning of tillage
into grass land, he writes : " One shepherd looks after the
stock on an area which probably gave work to four or five
families when under the plough; this is a great loss to the
country. At present there seems sufficient labour for require-
ments." Flax cultivation, which used to find winter employ-
ment for many, has almost entirely died out, and no fresh
industries appear to have arisen which would tend to check the
decline in population.

DORSET. — Fruit farming, vegetable growing, &c., appear to
have made very little progress. Mr. Duke writes : " Neither
fruit farming, vegetable growing, or poultry rearing has been
taken up to a sufficient extent to influence the population in
this district. The system of farming hereabouts, beyond the
laying of arable land to grass, has altered but little during
my experience of 35 years, and I think the character of the soil
and climate will militate against any beneficial change."

DEVON. — No particular agricultural industry appears to have
been developed.

CORNWALL. — Mr. Thomas writes : " I should think that the
alteration in the general system of farming, and the use of up-
to-date machinery, have affected the demand for labour to the
extent of at least 20 per "cent." Mr. Richards remarks that
special crops, such as early potatoes, have decreased owing to
the scarcity of labourers. Mr. Menhinick states that poultry
iraising for egg production has greatly increased, but chiefly
as an extra item in the farm account. No particular industry
appears to have arisen.

DIVISION IV.

(a.) Counties of Northumberland, Durham, York (North Riding)
and York (West Riding).

NORTHUMBERLAND. — No special industries have arisen to
check the decline in population. A few acres of strawberries
have been planted near towns.

DURHAM. — Mr. Kent writes : " No special industry has been
grafted into farming in this district, but more attention is paid
to small products, such as poultry, fruit, &c., worked in con-
junction with the ordinary farm routine." In some parts a
much larger quantity of potatoes and turnips is grown than
formerly.

YORK (NORTH RIDING). — Mr. King states that in his district
20 years ago cheese making and stock rearing were the prin-
cipal work on the farms; at the present time a great many
farmers are selling their milk, and, consequently, not rearing

106

Changes in calves. Poultry rearing is receiving increased attention, and

System in many cases is very remunerative, but more still miglit be

and Special Jone in this direction.
Industries

(b.) Counties of Cumberland, Westmorland, Lancashire, Cheshire,
Derby and Stafford.

CUMBERLAND. — Fruit farming, vegetable growing, &c., arc
carried 011 to so small an extent that they can supply practi-
cally no check to the decline in population. Referring to the
effect of converting arable land to. grass on the demand for
labour, Mr. Watt remarks that for the last few years there
has been a slight inclination to increase the corn-growing area.

WESTMORLAND. — The principal developments of farming
during late years have been in the direction of supplying milk,
poultry, eggs, &c., to the towns, but these are to be looked on
more as aids to income than as employing additional hands.
Poultry farming is stated to have developed principally in the
hands of cottagers. Fruit and vegetable growing have not
increased to any appreciable extent.

LANCASHIRE. — Dairy farming, particularly for milk produc-
tion, is constantly on the increase, but fruit farming, &c., have
not developed to a sufficient extent to have any effect on the
decline in population.

CHESHIRE. — Mr. Davies suggests that the changes in the
system of farming indicated under Question 2, may have
resulted from the scarcity of labour rather than contributed
to it. Although fruit growing and poultry rearing are extend-
ing, it is not thought that they have done so sufficiently to have
materially increased the demand for labour.

DERBY. — There is stated to have been practically no change
in the sj^stem of farming during the last 20 years, the produc-
tion of milk being the principal occupation of nine-tenths of
Derbyshire farmers. The area of permanent grass has not
increased ; in fact, Mr. Waite writes : " I have known more
grass land broken up to grow roots for dairy cattle than arable
land laid down for pasture." Milk production superseded
cheese making about 1869-74, and is now the principal industry
on the large majority of Derbyshire farms.

STAFFORD. — Mr. Carrington Smith, writing of the changes
in farming during the last 50 years, says : "In 1858 this farm
of 242 acres was looked upon as a wheat-growing farm with a
small herd of Longhorn cows used for cheesemaking. At that
time there were tyings in the cowshed for 18 head ; now there
are tyings for 02 head. Open fold yards have been abandoned,
and the open fields are noAv used with considerable advantage to
the land. There are now in mid-winter 20 head in the open

107

fields, besides the 62 head tied up. Fifty years ago the ordi-
nary staff were a waggoner, a cowman, and a waggoner's boy,
hired by the year with board and lodging. For the waggoner
and cowman the money wages for the year were £13 to £15,
and for the boy, £3 to £5. Two labourers at 125. per week,
having a daily allowance of two quarts of beer, completed the
staff, except in harvest and on thrashing days, when Irishmen
and other extra hands were put on. Now I have four labourers
in cottages close to the farm, and two young men, lodged out
but boarded in, at from £18 to £20. Put roughly, the perma-
nent staff is six men instead of four men 'and a boy, and the
wages are about 40 per cent, higher. I have now a labourer
who has been continuously employed here for 48 years. In the
winter of 1858 his day wage was 2s. with rent and rates to pay.
Now his minimum is 2s. fid. per day with a good cottage free to
him of renf and rates. No deduction is made for bad weather
or for a day's illness."

WALES.

DIVISION Y.

CARDIGAN. — Of the general style of farming, Mr. Jones
writes : " There is less neatness to be seen than in years gone
by. Hedging, ditching, and draining are neglected, mainly
owing to deficient capital. Good building, high farming,
breeding high-class cattle, rearing horses of true type, style
and action, afford employment for a larger number of labourers
than the badly-cultivated farm and ill-bred stock." He
observes that more attention has been paid to poultry rearing
during the last 30 years, but mainly as an auxiliary to farming ;
the industry, however, is hampered by the lack of adequate
railway communication.

CARMARTHEN. — Mr. Rees writes : " Less attention is being
paid to the corn crops and more to the meadows and pastures ;
farmers are, as far as possible, curtailing their arable land."
He also observes that whereas less than ten years ago the sickle
was still much in vogue in the district, it has now been almost
universally replaced by binders, reapers, &c. He adds, that a
few nurserymen in the district combine a little farming with
their industry, and that a number of men, especially in spring-
time, are engaged at the work who otherwise would doubtless
have migrated to the coalfields.

CARNARVON. — Mr. Koberts states that no particular agricul-
tural industry has been started in the district, but the County
Council have voted a sum of money towards the experimental
growth of sugar-beet.

Industries.

106

Changes in DENBIGH. — Mr. Gomer Koberts considers that the changes
System in farming noted under Question 2 (see p. 47) have reduced the
and Special demand for labour by 20 to 30 per cent. No particular industry,
he states, has been started during the last 25 years.

GLAMORGAN.— Mr. Forrest writes : " Formerly large flocks
of sheep were fed out during the winter, and this employed
a lot of labour — feeding the sheep and clearing the roots for
them. Fruit farming, vegetable growing, and poultry rearing
have tended to bring labour back to the land." Another cor-
respondent does not consider that any alteration in the system
of farming has affected the demand" for labour in his district.

PEMBROKE. — Mr. Richards writes : " There are no special
branches of agricultural industry carried on in this district.
For the last 50 years there has been no important alteration
in the system of farming generally which would materially
affect the demand for labour ; corn growing and grazing have
been about equal, and the regular labour employed upon the
farm is very little, if any, less than formerly." Mr. Yorke
writes : " None of the minor industries named are prosecuted
on a large scale. All the cottagers grow a few fowls in the old-
fashioned way. They sell to travelling higglers; altogether
a large number of fowls are collected weekly in this
way. I assume this minor industry tends to keep some of
the cottagers from leaving."

SCOTLAND.

DIVISION VI.

Counties of Aberdeen., Banff, Berwick, Clackmannan, Elgin, Fife,
...... Forfar, Haddington, Kincardine, Kinross, Lmlithgow, Mid-
lothian, Nairn, Peebles, Perth, Roxburgh and Selkirk.

ABERDEEN. — Mr. Bruce writes : " On my farm there used to
be ten men and one woman employed. Now I have only six
men in all. I have withdrawn upwards of 100 acres from cul-
tivation and laid it down in permanent pasture for sheep, and
I consider that every 100 acres laid down in grass dispenses
with about 3J farm workers. There is no fruit farming, &c.,
in this locality."

BANFF. — Mr. Livingstone remarks that poor land is going
out of cultivation, and must continue to do so at present prices.
Improving land by trenching and draining to any extent is out
of the question. None of the particular industries mentioned
have affected the agricultural population in his district.

ELGIN. — The extension of the area under grass has lessened
the demand 'for labour, and no' new agricultural industry has
arisen which would tend to check the decline.

109

FIFE. — The laying of land to grass has been the main factor
in reducing the demand for labour. Near towns, dairy farm-
ing has slightly increased the numbers on these particular
farms during the last ten years. Yery little fruit growing is
done in Fife except in one part in the north, and almost no
market-gardening, so that these industries have had no influ-
ence in checking the decline in the agricultural population.

HADDINGTON. — There has been no material alteration in the
system of farming over the county generally. In the higher
districts there is more grass and less tillage than 20 years ago.
" Fruit farming," says Mr. Shields, " has almost disappeared,
also vegetable growing by spade husbandry, but vegetable
growing by horse and plough tillage has largely increased.
The crops chiefly grown are leeks, onions, parsley,
turnips, peas, artichokes, potatoes, and cabbage plants on a
large scale. Poultry rearing may also have tended to check
the decline in the agricultural population, but not to any appre-
ciable extent." Mr. Hope observes that more potatoes are
grown in his district than there were 20 years ago, and that
consequently there is quite as much demand for labour. In
some districts there are complaints that sufficient labour cannot
be obtained.

KINROSS. — Mr. Tod writes : " A blacksmith near me tells me
that 20 pairs of horses fewer are now shod at his smithy than
was the case 20 years ago, thus showing that 20 fewer plough-
men are employed within a radius of three miles. No particu-
lar agricultural industry has tended to check the decline."

LINLITHGOW. — Mr. Glendinning observes that the industries
mentioned have had no material effect on the population;
those desirous of rearing poultry or growing vegetables have
no difficulty in obtaining sublets on reasonable terms from
agricultural tenants, but the demand is very limited, though it
would be increased were buildings freely provided.

MIDLOTHIAN. — The principal alteration has been the reduc-
tion of the arable area. Mr. Davidson (Corstorphine) writes :
" In my immediate neighbourhood there is a good deal of
market gardening which provides labour for a considerable
number of workers. None of the other industries are practised
to any extent."

PEEBLES. — Mr. Ritchie writes : " Less land is in cultivation
now, as expenses of labour are gradually rising. On many
farms where four pairs of horses used to be kept, there are now
only two pairs, and, of course, other workers decrease in the
same proportion. Female workers, either for inside or outside
work, can scarcely be got even at the high rate of wages now
prevailing."

PERTH. — Mr. Craig writes : " The greater demand for milk
has given rise to the employment of more labour throughout

Changes in

System
and Special
Industries.

Changes in

System
and Special
Industries.

110

parts of this district. Thirty years ago there were very few
dairies employed in the milk trade in Upper Strathearn,
whereas now between 20 and 30 farmers send milk into Crieff,
Courrie, and Perth every day from this district." Mr. Hutche-
son writes : " In some districts in Perthshire, notably Blair-
gowrie, market gardening, especially fruit growing, has
largely extended."

SELKIRK. — Mr. Elliot states that several cases of fruit farm-
ing, vegetable growing, and poultry rearing have been tried
in the county, and have been given up. The only industry
that has helped in any degree is dairying, which has increased
of late years.

DIVISION VII.

Comities of Argyll, Ayr, Bute, Caithness, Dumbarton, Dumfries,
Inverness, Kirkcudbright, Lanark, Orkney, Renfrew, Ross
and Cromarty, Shetland, Stirling, Sutherland and Wigtown.

ARGYLL. — Mr. Hunter writes : " There has been very little
change in the system of farming during the last 20 years,
except in more land being put under grass. ]N"o particular
agricultural industries have been started here, distance from
markets being very much against the likelihood of their being-
made profitable." Mr. Campbell writes : " There is no open-
ing, with our climate, for small industries such as vegetable or
fruit culture. Poultry, except as an adjunct, is in no way
profitable. Our only return is in raising store sheep and cattle,
with summer dairying near tourist resorts or shooting lodges."

AYR. — Mr. Hannah states that potato growing for the early
market has increased very much during the last 20 years, and
this has tended to make the demand for labour greater during
March, May, June, July, and August and less during the rest
of the year.

CAITHNESS. — Mr. Miller states that the alteration of the rota-
tion of crops from a six-course with three corn crops to a five-
course with only two corn craps, and then to a six-course with
three grasses, is resulting in increased production of crops at
less cost, and has decreased the number of labourers required,
especially ploughmen and shepherds ; at the same time the
permanent pasture is receiving more attention in the way of
manuring.

DUMFRIES. — Mr. Moffat writes : " I would put this question
the other way. The system of farming has had to be altered
for want of sufficient labour."

KIRKCUDBRIGHT. — There has been nothing to check the
decrease in the rural population, except, perhaps, the increase
of dairy farming, for which regular labour is a necessity.

Ill

LANARK. — Mr. Gilchrist considers that the altered system of
farming in his district requires between 10 and 20 per cent,
fewer labourers than formerly. No particular industry, he
states, has tended to check the decline, with the exception of
fruit growing, near Lanark. Mr. Scott writes : " Fruit farm-
ing, especially strawberry growing, has increased enormously
in certain parts of the county, and, I think, must have made up
for any decrease in the purely agricultural population. Of
late years a considerable number of people have acquired by
lease a few acres of land for strawberries and other small-fruit
culture, with the very best results. Poultry rearing is not
practised to any great extent in the county, but I believe would
be considerably developed could land be got easily and at a
moderate price." Mr. Speir writes : " Here, as elsewhere near
large towns, farmers are gradually reducing the area of their
ordinary farm crops and going more and more into the produc-
tion of vegetables and milk. These farmers are gradually
employing more labour than they ever did. My own farm
may be mentioned as a case in point. Here the sum expended
annually on labour has gradually increased even with one-third
of the farm now in pasture, until at the present time it
amounts to £5 per acre, or about 2| times the amount of the
rent of the land under these crops. There has been a gradual
decrease of arable crops in this district for 30 years, and a
corresponding increase of pasture for cows. Where no part of
the land has been devoted to the growth of vegetables, this has
caused some decrease in the rural population."

ORKNEY. — Mr. Watt states that the system of farming on
both large and small holdings is much the same as it was
20 years ago, and that permanent grass has not been laid down
to any great extent. Fruit farming and vegetable growing
are not practised in the county.

RENFREW. — Mr. Pollock writes : " Diminished cultivation
has reduced the demand for labour by about one-fourth. Fruit
farming and vegetable growing have to some extent checked
the reduction, but poultry farming has not been successful in
this direction."

SHETLAND. — Mr. Anderson writes : " There have been no
alterations in the system of farming in this district to affect
the demand for labour ; any scarcity of labour would be caused
by the demand for hands to prosecute the fishing."

Mr. Fletcher considers that the demand for labour has not
been affected to an appreciable extent by any change in the
system of farming, and states that he cannot ascertain that
any particular agricultural industry has tended to check the
decline in his district.

STIRLING. — Mr. Malcolm estimates that under the present
system of farming at least one-fourth less labour is required
than formerly. Mr. Drysdale writes ; " Two distinct attempts

Changes in

System
and Special
Industries.

112

Changes in

System
and Special
Industries.

a^ poultry farming have been tried in 'this district, but without
success. Poultry rearing and egg production are pursued by
all the smaller farmers, but their system and methods are
capable of considerable improvement. Fruit and vegetable
growing have been vigorously attempted by practical men in
the district, but they have not succeeded, being seriously
handicapped in getting their produce into the market, where
they have to compete with rivals producing under more favour-
able conditions." A system of combination and co-operation,
Mr. Drysdale concludes, would be a boon in the district.

WIGTOWN. — Mr. Ralston writes : 'k There has been little al-
teration in the system of farming other than that already
mentioned (Question 2, p. 61). The Mac-bars, or Eastern
Division, is chiefly devoted to the feeding of cattle and sheep ;
the Ehins, or Western Division, to dairying, with the feeding
of sheep on turnips, and wintering young cattle. These
methods apply for the last fifty years, or longer." Mr.
McMaster writes : " The only respect in which the sys-
tem of farming has changed in this district is that dairying has
greatly increased. The production of beef has given place to
that of milk, for which the damp, mild climate seems to be
specially suitable. On most of the larger holdings cheese-
making is carried on; the small farmers adopt the handier,
though perhaps less profitable, plan of sending their milk daily
to the creameries, three of which have been started in this
district within the last twenty years. I do not know that this
change has directly affected the demand for labour, but, as the
milking is done mainly by the ploughmen's wives and daugh-
ters, it means 1J hours' absence from their homes morning and
evening for seven days a week at a time when they are most
needed there, and is a serious disadvantage to their families,
and a piece of drudgery from which they are glad to escape
as soon as they can."

113

APPENDIX A.

TABLES

25176

114

TABLE I. —NUMBER of FARMERS and GRAZIERS, FARM BAILIFFS,

1881, 1891 and 1901 respectively

COUNTIES, ETC.

Farmers and Graziers.

Farm Bailiffs— Foremen.

Number returned in

Inc. +
Dec. -
1881-
1901.

Number returned in

Inc. +
Dec. -

1881-
1901.

1881.

1891.

1901.

1831.

1891.

1901.

GREAT BRITAIN

279,126

277,942

277,694

-1,432

22,895

21,453

27,317

+4,422

ENGLAND ..
WALES
SCOTLAND

188,544
35,399
55,183

187,930
35,680
54,332

188,909
35,390
53,395

1,224

984
3,372
4.046
3,767
1,234
533
340

+ 365
9

-1,788

18,425
952
3,518

177
127
391
934
1,012
391
183
64

17,189
1,016

3,248

21,412
1,250
4,655

+2,987
+ 298
+ 1,137

+ 40
H 73
+ 208
+ 56
- 37
+ 16
- 21
- 30

ENGLAND.

Bedford
Huntingdon
Cambridge
Suffolk

1,301
867
3,317
4,351
3303

1,270
942
3,501
3,995
3,193
1.3SO
623

S88

+ 117
+ 55
- 305
+ 464
- 169
- 165
- 43

161
106
355
908
867
356
164
37

m

200
599
990
975
407
162
34

Hertford . .

1 403

Middlesex
London

Total Division I.a
Norfolk .. ..

698
383

15,<>LM 15,192

15,500

- 123

3,279

2,954

3,534

+ 305

5777

5,648
9,939
3,593

6,045
11,347
3,839

+ 268
+1,299
+ 190

1,025
1,161

585

1,053
1,441
431

1,189
2,097
1,116

+ 164
+ 936
+ 531

10048

York, E.R
Total Division I.&..
Total Division I. ..

Kent
Surrey

Sussex

3.6J9

19,474 19,180

21,231

+1,757

2,771

2,925

4,402

+1,631

35,097 31,372

36,731

+ 1,634

6,050

5,879

7,986

+1,936

4,344

1,350
3 589

4,11(5
1,228
3,5! 4
1,586
3,143

4,749
1,337

3,945
1,254
3,542

+ 405
- 13
+ 356
- 367
+ 378

1,329
485
796
417

597

1,263
438
767
406
531

1,348
532
847
374
531

+ 19
+ 47
+ 51
- 43
- 66

Berks
Hants

Total Division II.a

Nottingham
Leicester
Rutland
Northampton
Buckingham
Oxford . . ...
Warwick

Total Division n.6
Total Division II. ..

Salop
Worcester

1,621

3,164

14,068 13,587

14,827

+ 759

1 3,624

3,405

3,632

+ 8

3,706 3,699
3,283 3,571
534 516
2,328 2,440
1,717 1,836
1,782 1,851

3,333 :i,r,ii

3,374

:v~26

431

2,601
2,145
1.796
3,129

- 332
+ 243
- 103
+ 273
+ 428
+ 14
- 204

426 413
234 232
32 35
286 ; 294
222 226
2H1 269
H93 312

421
269
40
32.?
306
263
346

- 5
+ 35
+ 8
+ 37
+ 84
- 23
- 47

16,683 17,379

17,002

+ 319

1,884

1,811

1,973

+ 89

30,751 30,966

31,829

+1,078

5,508

5,216

5,605

+ 97

5,566

2729

5,829
2,617
3,785
3,275
2,731
3,346

5,378
3,013
4,259
3,367
2,471
3,609

- 188
+ 284
+ 652
+ 356
- 40
+ 381

458 385
335 308
368 382
378 3^6
2.12 204
304 263

370
343
462
370
188
219

- 88
+ 8
+ 94
- 8
- 44
- 55

Gloucester . .

3607

Wilts

3 Oil

Monmouth
Hereford

2',511
3,228

Total Division IILrt

Somerset
Dorset
Devon
Cornwall

20,652

21,583

22,097

+ 1,445

2,075 1,868

1,982

- 93

7,580
2,340
9,754
8,387

7,700
2,643
9,636
8,447

7,242
2,821
10,229
8,481

- 338

+ 481
+ 475
+ 94

3 <7 365
266 242
402 355
193 128

377
272
557
385

- 10

iiJ

+ 192

Total Division III.&
Total Division III. ..

Northumberland
Durham
York, N. R.
York,W.R.

Total Division IV a

Cumberland .. ,.
Westmorland
Lancaster
Chester
Derby

28,061

28,426

28,773

+ 712

1,248 1,090

1,591

+ 343

48,713

50,009

50,870

+2,157

3,323 2,958

3,573

+ 250

3,048
3,710
6,790
17,008

3,333
3,887
6,913
16,512

3,252
3,416
7,532
15,011

+ 204
- 294
+ 742
- 1,997

363
304
483

747

316

210
347
723

406
300

616
1,045

+ 43
4
+ 133
+ 298

30,556

30,645

29,211

- 1,345

1,897

1,596

2,367

+ 470

5,156

2,589
16,448
7,141
58-;0

5,300
2,590
14,956
7,135
5,6 .'9
6,328

5,232
2,470
13,570
6,834
5,999
6,163

+ 76
- 119
-2,878
- 307
+ 179
- 110

150
81
590
272
1H1
393

131

68
529
267
185
360

192
97
589
380
252
371

+ 42
+ 16

+ 108
+ 91
- 22

Stafford
Total Division IV. b
Total Division IV. . .

6,273

43,427

41,938

40,268

-3,159

\ 1,647

1,540

1,881

+ 234

73,983

72,583

69,479

-4,504 i 3,544

3,136

4,248

+ 704

115

SHEPHERDS and AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS as returned at the Census of
in each COUNTY of GREAT BRITAIN.

Shepherds.

Agricultural Labourers-
Farm Servants.

COUNTIES, ETC.

Number returned in

Inc. +
Dec. -
1881-
1901. i

Number returned in

Inc. +
Dec. -

1881-
1901.

1881.

1891.

1901.

1881.

1891. 1901.

33,125

31,686

35,022

+ 1,897

983,919

866,546

689,292

-294,627

GREAT BRITAIN.

22,014
830
10,281

20,666
907
10,113

24,120
1,246
9,656

+2,106
+ 416
- 625

802,288
45,665
135,966

716,609
42,525
107,412

561,136
34,566
93,590

-241,152
- 11,099
- 42,376

ENGLAND.
WALES.
SCOTLAND.

318

166
581
769
436
525
60
25

242
136
526
774
429
492
43
20

321

160
536
1,051
649
465

1

+ 3
- 6
- 45
+ 282
+ 213
- 60
- 28
- 18

14,828
7,068
22,419
36,225
38,380
17,055
6,599
1,766

13,519

6,804
22,173
34,498
35,210
15,885
5,820
1,197

9,225
5,517
16,579
27,462
2t>,673
10,228
?,894
828

- 5,603
- 1,551
- 5,840
- 8,763
- 8,707
- 6,827
- 2,705
- 938

ENGLAND.

Bedford.
Huntingdon.
Cambridge.
Suffolk.
Essex.
Hertford.
Middlesex.
London.

Total Division La.

2,880

2,662

3,221

+ 341

144,340

135,106

103,406

-40,934

1,122
1,593
669

987
1,335
618

1,241
1,522
Ll!5

+ 119
- 71
+ 446

41,067
43,047
15,630

40,446
41,215
13,902

33,848
34,919
12,314

- 7,219 Norfolk.
- 8,128 Lincoln.
- 3,316 York, E. R.

-18,663 Total Division 1.6.

3,384

2,940

3,878 + 494

99,744

95,563 81,081

6,264

5,602

959

298
989
841
1,299

7,099

+ 835

244,084

230,669

184,487

-59,597

- 9,163
- 4,095
- 9,379
- 9,929
- 8,157

Total Division I.

Kent.
Surrey.

Sussex
Berks.
Hants.

Total Division ILa.

Nottingham.
Leicester.
Rutland.
Northampton.
Buckingham.
Oxford.
Warwick.

Total Division Il.b.
Total Division II.

Salop.
Worcester.
Gloucester.
Wilts.
Monmouth.
Hereford.

Total Division TJst.

Somerset.
Dorset.
Devon.
Cornwall.

Total Division IITA
Total Division III.

Northumberland.
Durham.
York, N. R.
York, W. R.

Total Division IV.a.

Cumberland.
Westmorland.
Lancaster.
Chester.
Derby.
Stafford.

Total Division IV.b. '
Total Division IV.

953

290
964
980
1,481

1,081
292
980
655
1,273

+ 128
+ 2
+ 16
- 325
- 208

40,048
14,058
28,926
19,800
25,477

37,371
12,781
26,183
16,814
22,538

30,885
9,963
19,547
9,871
17,320

4,668

4,386

4,281

- 387

128,309

115,687 87,583

-40,723

298
513
160
834
394
823
588

279
488

isc

758
371
765
599

296
519
115
918
536
951
522

_ 2
+ 6
- 45
+ 84
+ 142
+ 128
- 66

13,605
12,965
2,532
19,505
13,468
17,751
17,4H1

12,563
10,807
1,968
16,990
12,410
15.074
14,802

8,962
7,695
1,511
11,701
10,423
10,523
10,329

- 4,643
- 5,270
- 1,021
- 7,804
- 3,045
- 7,228
- 7,132

3,610

3,395

3,857

+ 247

97,287

84,617

61,144

- 36,143

8,278

7,781

8,138

- 140

225,596

200,304

148,730

-76,866

325
247
688
1,277
111
229

381
211
626
1.231
131
252

498
296
844
1,355
136
381

+ 173
+ 49
+ 156
+ 78
+ 25
+ 152

18,848
14,857
19,800
23,495
5,001
11,576

16,848
1V,704
15.916
19,662
4,283
9,458

12,165
10962
13,319
15 732
3,016

- 6,683
- 3.895
- 6,481
- 7,763
- 1,985
- 3,202

2,877

2,832

3,510 + 633

93,577

78.869

63,568

-30,^09

544
759
310
73

503
716
293
65

620
746
339
92

+ 76
- 33
+ 29
+ 19

2-U41
15,009
30,478
16,684

22,805
12,986
26,117
13,531

17,234
10,2113
20,210
10,066

-10,907
- 4,716
- 10,268
- 6,618

1,686

1,577

1,797 + 111

9«\312

75,439

57,803

-32,509
-62,518

4,563

4,409

5,307 + 744

183,889

154,308

121,371

1,274
117

390
332

1,225
125

384
368

1,261 - 13
143 + 26
585 + 195
569 + 237

11,710
7,857
15,534

30,697

10,' 57
7,026
13,252
25,^82

7,990
5,480
10,979
19,470

- 3,720
- 2,377
- 4,555
-11,227

2,113

2,102

2,558

+ 445

65,798

5^,317 43,919

-21,879

209
77
115
74
65
256

213
87
99
68

47
258

108
115

82
90
297

!+ 117
+ 31

+ "8
+ 25
;+ 41

9,638
3,186
28,295
17,445
8,013
16.H44

8,461
2,786
25,497
16,818
6,983
14,466

6,632
2,115
20,581
14,539
7,243
11,519

- 3,0' 6
- 1,071
- 7,714
- 2,906
- 770
- 4,825

796

772

1,018 + 222

82,921

75,011

62,629

-20,292

2,909

2,874

3,576

+ 667

148,719

131,328

106,548

-42,171

116

TABLE I.— continued. — NUMBER of FARMERS and GRAZIERS, FARM

Census of 1881, 1891 and 190 1 respectively

Farmers and Graziers.

Farm Bailiffs— Foremen.

COUNTIES, ETC.

Number returned in

tnc. + ;
De^. -
1881-
1901.

Number returned in r

i

[nc. +
Dec. -
1881-
1901.

1881.

1891.

1901.

1881.

1891.

1901.

WALES.
Anglesey

1,756
2.139

1,787
2,216
5,456
4,501 i
3,526
3,181
840
3,317
2.S67
3,824
3,03J
1,138

2,493
1,934
3,513
5,622
3 171
3,527
1,679
2,931
2,044
M51
3,484
1,511 ,

+ 737 !
- 205
-2,028
+1,173
- 403
+ 404
+ 893
- 332
- 844
- 373
+ 557
+ 412

29
86
64
65
63
137
53
177
52
133
44
41

26
82
55
89
107
126
41
213
58
121
49
49

87
120
39
63
138
123
75
196
66
200
39
104

+ 58

t 1

- 2
+ 70
- 14
+ 22
+ 19
+ 14

t 6I

+ 60

Cardigan 5,571
Carmarthen .. .. 4,44:)
Carnarvon 3,571
Denbigh .. .. am ;

Flint ..

786
3,263

Glamorgan

Merioneth
Montgomery
Pembroke
"Radnor

Total Di vision V...

2,888
3,82 i
2,927 ;

1,099

35,399 35,680

35,390

- 9

952

1,016

1,250

+ 298

SCOTLAND,

8.702

7,859
2,570
494
111
1,210
1,529
1,696
245
1,029
185
310
519
268
198
2,512
609
120

8,060
2,131
516
H8
1,116
1,175
1,619
296
1,157
181
317
585
266
202
2,474
608
116

- 642

- 463
+ 19
+ 29
- 246
+ 62
- 59
+ 32
- 117
+ 8
- 25
+ 66
+ 7
+ 13
- 305
+ 24
+ 3

351
95
193
18
104
150
188
151
76
8
45
154
22
52
253
168
30

347
67
187
11
92
92
220
184
82
13
35
148
25
49
257
187
25

692
194
235
17
102
224
414
214
150
17
35
188
41
51
309
223
30

+ 311

+ 99
+ 42

+ 58
+ 74
+ 226
+ 63
4- 74
+ 9
- 10
+ 34

t '?

+ 56
+ 60

Banff 2,5!)7
Berwick 497
Clackmannan .. , 69
Elgin or Moray .. . 1,362
File 1 113

Forfar
Haddington
Kincardine
Kinross
Linlithgow..
Midlothian
Nairn
Peebles
Perth .

1,678
264
1,274
173
342
519
259
189
2,779
5S4
113

Roxburgh . .
Selkirk

Total Division VI.

Argyll
Ayr
Bute
Caithness
Dumbarton
Dumfries
Inverness
Kirkcudbright . .
Lanark
Orkney
Renfrew
Boss and Cromarty
Shetland
Stirling
Sutherland
Wigtown

22,514

21,464

20,917

- 1,597

2,0.53

2,021

3,196

+1,143

2,604
2,556
482
2,051
383
1,564
5,0?5
984
2,170
2,810
813
i 5,219
2,016
966
2,004
1,012

2,297
2,370
477
2,223
H51
1,546
5,906
1,017
2,187
3,097
832
5,086
1,593
923
2,094
870

2,112

2,439
471
2,127
404
1,656
5,270
988
2,111
2,922
751
5,551
1,794
897
2,082
903

- 492
- 117
- 11

+ 76
+ 21
-i- 92
+ 235
+ 4
- 59
+ 112
- 62
+ 332
- 222
- 69
+ 78
- 109

153

105

115

27
96
194
79
139
93
40
199
8
61

3

141

94
6
68
29
91
184
67
122
51
33
168
10

S

48

161
134
14

94
3
93
214
93
138
80
42
181
7
67
52
86

+ 8
+ 29
+ 10
- 21
- 24

+ 20
+ 14
- I
- H

i il

1

t 2i

+ 14

Total Division VII.

32,689

32,869

32,478

- 191

1,465

1,227

1,459

!- 6

117

BAILIFFS, SHEPHERDS and AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS as raturned at the
in each COUNTY of GREAT BRITAIN.

Shepherds.

Agricultural Labourers-
Farm Servants.

Number returned in jinc. -f-

Number returned in

Inc. + COUNTIES, ETC.

1881.

1891.

1901.

IV CO. —

1881-

1901.

1881.

1891.

1901.

1881-
1901.

1

i

WALES.

1

5

29

+ 28

2,315

2,587

3,289

+ 974

Anglesey.

147

136

160

+ 13

2,692

2.538

1,702

- 990

Brecon.

181

112

112

- 19

5,831 5J54

2,638

- 3,193

Cardigan.

20

27

50

+ 30

4,199 3,800

3,567

- 6;2> Carmarthen.

53

73

104

+ 51

4,862 ' 4,931

3,285

- 1,577 Carnarvon.

80

88

120

+ 40

5,106 ' 4,787

4,316

- 790 ! Denbigh.

19

14

36

+ 17

1,197 1,074

2,303

+ 1,106' Flint.

98

105

169

+ 71

4,770 4,235

3,455

• 1,315 ! Glamorgan.

84

133

141

+ 57

3,061 3,168

1,759

- 1,302 i Merioneth.

105

122

154

+ • 49

5,372 4,591

3,292

- 2,080 Montgomery.

16

23

41

+ 25

4,608 4,140

3,510

- 1,098

Pembroke.

i 76

69

130

+ 54

1,652 1,520

1,450

- 202

Radnor.

830

907

1,246

+ 416

45,665

42,525

34,566

-11,099

Total Division V.

SCOTLAND.

381

553

459

+ 78

15,341

14,009

12.088

- 3,253

Aberdeen.

116 i 150

110 - 6

5,687

3,766 £396

- 2,291

Banff.

418 391

397 - 21

5.072

4,277 3,72')

- 1,347

Berwick.

16

17

21 f 6 '332

322 : 297

- 35

Clackmannan.

186
214

190
334

193 + 7

286 + 72

3,591

7,929

2,458 2,175
6,707 . 5,439

- 1,416

- 2,490

Elgin or Moray.

323

308

348 + 25

6,666

6,207 5,408

- 1,258

Forl'ar.

224

236

225

+ 1

\ 5,163

4.264

3,747

- 1,416

Haddington.

78

109

128

+ 50

I 3,292

2;?89 2,551

- 741

Kincardine.

46

41

42

4

562

423 423

- 139

Kinross.

32

40

33

1.568

1,169

1,162

- 406

Linlithgow.

238

234

254

+ 16 4J4'<

4,017

3,441

- 1,302

Midlothian.

82

69

96

, 14 582

635

550 - 32

Nairn.

232

217

211

- 21

7B8 759

635 - 163

Peebles.

801

802

796

- 5 9,978 6,141

5,439

- 4,539

Perth.

706 1 629

698

- 8 3,882

3,561

3,067

- 815

Roxburgh.

244

210

231

- 13

613

505

432

- 181

Selkirk.

4,336

4,530

4,528

+ 192

75,799

62,000

53,975

-21,824

Total Division VI.

1,221

1,033

945

- 276

6,054

3,60(5

3,332

- 2,722

Argyll.

397

385

394

- 3

6,681

5,221'

4,918

- 1,763

Ayr.

47

47

47

842

574

584

- 258

Bute.

231

222

178

- "53 2,954

2,219

2,001

- 950

Caithness.

88 91

93

+ 8 1,760

1,197

1,120

- 610

Dumbarton.

676 649

634

- 42

4,851

3,983 3,614

- 1,207

Dumfries.

941 979

780 - 161

5,638

4,248

3,131

- *>• f)('7

Inverness.

507

482

485 - 22 3,196

2,878 2,366

- "830

Kirkcudbright.

280

296

286 + 6 6,657

4,986 5,015

- 1,612

Lanark.

27 23

27

2,517

1,657

1,772

- 745

Orkney.

45 35

49 + 4

2,701

2,331 2:ill

- f«0

Renfrew.

669

577

491 - 178

6,73b

5,170 i 3,240

- 3,496

Ross and Crcmarty.

54

57

• . 47

- 7

1,016

466 : 240

- 776

Shetland.

156

176

174 + 18

2,800

2,389

2,146

- 654

Stirling.

426

316

268 - 158

1,653

839

636

- 1,017

Sutherland.

180

•J15

227 : -r 47

4,111

3,644

3,356

- 755

Wigtown.

5,945

5,583

5,128 - 817

60,167

45,409

39,615

-10,552

Total Division VII.

118

TABLE II. — ACREAGE of ARABLE LAND and PERMANENT GRASS with
in each COUNTY and DIVISION of GREAT BRITAIN as

COUNTIES, ETC.

Arable Land.

1881.

1891.

1901.

Acres.

°/o of Total
Area under
Crops and
Grass.

Acres.

°/0 of Total

Area under
Crops and
Grass.

Acres.

°/o of Total
Area under
Crops and
Grass.

GREAT BRITAIN

17,068,115

54'5

16,484,664

50'1

15,590,1^6

48'1

ENGLAND
WALES
SCOTLAND

13,00^,112
9 59,ir50
3,590,453

52 '7
34'8
75'4

T',028,226
87.V5H
3,531,079

47'9
30'3

72'8

11,236,592
8*1,697
3,471,907

4;V 5

sra

70'9

ENGLAND.
Bedford
Huntingdon ..
Cambridge
Suffolk
Essex
Hertford
Middlesex
London

Total Division !.</ . .

Norfolk
Lincoln
York, E.E

Total Division I.b . .
Total Division I. . .

. Kent
Surrey
Sussex
Berks
Hants

Total Division II.a , .

Nottingham
Leicester . . ..

177,550
145,798
398,363
613,943
629,937
238,181
34,684

2,238,456

825,288
1,058,254

494,749

2,378,291

68'5
70 '0
82 '5
787
75'7
70 '3
29 '8

161,756
133,396
381,323
594,3<5
59t,922
225,795
31,679

62'4
63'1

77'8
767
71'3
66'2
22'4

152,975
123,080
374,687
575,104
529,857
210,601
26,829
3,002

59'5
59'0
76'3
75'8
66'2
63 '5
27-0
26'4

74'2

2,123,206

70'2

1,996,135

779,326
1,017,887
460,562

67' 5

73'0
67'1
68'5

76'1
70'6
73'2

802,021
1,030,980
466,392

73'5
67'6
697

73*0

2,299,393

70'0

2,257,775

69'3

4,616,747 73'5

4,422,599

70'1

4,253,910

68'5

418,136
173,487
363,987
250,895
509,584

56 '1
58'0
53*9
66'6
71'9

388,423
145,168
321,987

220,778
461,897

BT1

49'1
47-0
58'7
64'6

329,016
120,081
268,041
193,551
422,209

44'1

43'5
40'2
53-1
59'7

1,716,089

61*2

1,538,253

5i'3

1,332,898

48 '3

278.374
156 129

61'4
32'9
48'5
47'1
49'6
64'4
43'5

246,945
125,870

3:i,6(l7

224,116
174,469
237.768

174,484

57'3
26'6
42'0
40'0
43 '2
57 '3
35 '2

238,296
115,046
34,209
203,969
155,^73
215,825
159,177

53'2
24'2
39'5
36'4
39'0
52'4
32'2

Rutland
Northampton
Buckingham
Oxford
Warwick

Total Division Il.fr . .
Total Division II.

Salop
Worcester . . . .
Gloucester
Wilts
Monmouth
Hereford

Total Division IILa

Somerset
Dorset
Devon ;
Cornwall

Total Division III.fr
Total Division III.

Northumberland
Durham
York, N.B
York.W.R

Total Division IV. a..

Cumberland .. .. '
Westmorland
Lancaster
Chester
Derby
Stafford

TotalDivisionIV.fr..
Total Division IV.

41,989
263,802
200,412
268,807
213,866

1,423,379

49'3

1,220,259
2,758,512

275,214
164.149

285,194
353,082
54,929
161,491

42 '3
48^2

38'0
40'3
43'5
46'o
22 '4
37 '0

1.122,495

39*0 '

3,139,468

55'2

2,455,393

43'6

~35'7~~"
36 '6
39 '6
4f8
18'9
33'2

295,453
187,922
326,801
401,477
69,323
184,910

41'8
47'1
49' ft
WO
2V5
41'5

256,852
146,566
261,922
306,242
45,821
148,806

1,465,916

45'7

1,298,059

40'1

1,166,209

36'4

258,159
219.672
635,517
363,553

1,476,901
2,942,817

283,607
186,833
391,175
422,854

30 '1
45 '1
54 '5
65'1

221,529
198,133
585,442
374,634

25 '5
40*3

48'2
62'2

196,141
182,928
564,051
361,434

1,304,554
2,470,763~

23'0
38'0
46'7
59'6

48-1
46'9

40'4
44'7
46'2
35'ti

1,379,783

43'4

41'4

2,677,817

417

38'9

25?.89l

170.577
362.66S
386,159

34 '8
39 '1
41'9
31'6

213,215

156,089
345,365
369,035

SO 1
35*6

39 '8
30 '9

1,281,469

40*7 : 1,172,290

36*1

1,083,704

33 8

252,445
44.521
227,589
174,556
120,558
204,942

44'0 251,788
17 '9 44,261
28 '9 237,421
32'5 180,302
23 '5 100,273
34'0 182,933

39 '3
15 '3
28'6
33'3
19'6
30'2

233,945
40,181
245.885
196,769
90,061
165,981

40'2
16'2
29*9
36' 7
18*2
27*8

1,024,611

31*4

996,978

29'1 972,822

29'7

2,309,080

36 '0 2,169,268

32*5 2,056,526

317

119

the PERCENTAGE of each in the TOTAL AREA under CROPS and GRASS
returned on the 4th June in 1881, 1891 and 190'.

Permanent Grass.

COUNTIES, ETC.

1881.

1891.

1901.

Acres.

°/o of Total
Area under
Crops and
Grass.

Acres.

°/0 of Total
Area under
Crops and
Grass.

Acres.

% of Total
Area under
Crops and
Grass.

14,643,397

;

45-5

16,433,850

49'9

16,827,249

51'9

GREAT BRITAIN.

11,655,825
1,815,413
1,172,159

47-3
65'2
24'6

13,085.117
2,012,432
1,336,301

52'1
C9'7
27*2

13,457,660
1,941,365
1,428,224

54 '5
68'8
29'1

ENGLAND.
WALES.
SCOTLAND.

81,621
62,399
84,526
165,734
202,048
100,866
81,749

31'5

30'0
17'5
21 '3

24'3

29'7
70-2

97,316

77,851
108,865
180,614
239,265
115,339
81,255

37'6
36'9
22*2
2H'3
28'7
33 '8
77'6

104,059
85,644
116,361
183,431

269,940
120,830
72,487
8,360

40*5
41'0
23'7
24'2
33*8
36 '5
73'0
73'6

ENGLAND.
Bedford.
Huntingdon.
Cambridge.
Suffolk.
Essex.
Hertford.
Middlesex.
London.

Total Division I.a.

Norfolk.
Lincoln.
York, E.R,

Total Division 1.6.
Total.Division I.

Kent.
Surrey.
Sussex.
Berks.
Hants.

Total Division lift.

Nottingham.
Leicester.
Rutland.
Northampton,
Buckingham.
Oxford.
Warwick.

Total Division 11.6.
Total Division II.

1 Salop.
Worcester.
Gloucester.
Wilts.
Mon mouth.
Hereford.

Total Division ULa.

Somerset.
Dorset.
Devon.
Cornwall.

Total Division III.6.
Total Division III.

Northumberland.
Durham.
York, N.R,
York, \V.R.

Total Division IV. a.

Cumberland.
Westmorland.
Lancaster.
Chester.
Derby.
Stafford.

Total Division IV.6
Total Division IV7

778,943 25 '8 900,505

29'8

961,112

32'5

259,788 23 '9 288,511
440,422 29 '4 493,597
181,218 26 '8 203,001

26'5
32'4
30'3

288,515
499,186
211,379

27-0
32'9
31'5

881,428 27 '0 985,109

30'0

999,080

30'7

1,660,371 i 26 '5 1,885,614

29'9

1,960,192

31'5

327.079
125,746
311,2-16
125,679
199,103

1,088,853

175,319

317,869
44,675
295,883
203,261
148,799
277,703

43'9
42'0
46'1
33*4
28'1

38'8

38'6
67' 1
51 '5
52-9
50'4
35 T>
56'5

371,342
150,649
36^,936
155,301
252,728

48'9
50'9
53'0
41'3
35'4

416,333

155,968
398,704
171,188
284,847

55'9
56'5
59'8
46'9
40'3

1,292,956

45'7

1,427,040

51'7

2f5,35'?
317,182
f 0,619
336,557
2l".i,279
177,518
L21.235

42'7
73-4
58 '0
60'0
56'8
42-7
64'8

209,380
359,810
52,307
356,851
243,940
196,092
335,600

46'8
75'8
60'5
63'6
•TO
47'6
67'8

1,463,509

50 "I (| 1,067,743

57'7

1,753,980

ero

2,552,362

44'8 '[ 2,960,699

61'8

3,181,020

56'4

411,528
211,464
328,557
355,925
174,012
260,910

58'2
52'9
50'1
47'0
7F6
68*5

449,471

242,843
372,464
405,433
190,615
28f\090

62'0
59'7
56-5
53'5
77'6
63'0

461,792
253,914
400,016
426,724
106,789
299,490

64'3
63 '4
60'4
58'2
81'1
66'8

1,742,396 i 54'3 1,940,916 59 '9

2,038,725 63 '6

598,158 69 '9
267,848 54'9
530,409 45 '5
195,204 34'9

647,411
293,687
628,'«73

227,284

74'5
59'7
51'8
37'8

56'6

658,078
298,021
644,948
245,090

1,816,137

77'0
62'0
53 "3
40*4

1,591,619 51'9

1,796,655

58'6

3,334,015 | 53 '1

3,737,571

472,811
265,744
502,092
835,011

58-3

65'2
60'9
58*1
68'4

3,884,862

494,647
282,133
521,624
827,143

eri

418,574
231,108
455,317
766,095

59 '6
55*3
53'8
64 '4

69'9
64'4
60 '2
69'1

1,871,094 59'3

2,075,658

63'9

2,125,547

66'2

59'8
83'8
70' 1
63'3

81'8
72'2

321,631
204,485
560,143
362,201
391,776
397,747

56'0
82'1
71 '1
67'5
76'5
66'0

389,608
245,961
593,835
361,017
412,320
422,831

60'7
84'7
71'4
66'7
80-4
69'8

347,741
208,521
576,^01
339,297
403,646
430,533

2,237,983

4,109,077

68'6

2,425,575 70 '9

2,306,039 70 '3

ero

4,501,233 67 '5

4,431,586 1 68 '3

(Continued on pa ye 120.)

120

TABLE II. — continued. — ACREAGE of AKABLE LAND and PERMANENT
GRASS in each COUNTY and Divisto * of GREAT BRITAIN

Arable Land.

XX..I tAU

1

881.

1

891.

1

ML

COUNTIES, ETC.

Ajres.

°/o of Total
Area undei
Crops and

i Acres.

°/o of Total
Area under
Crops and

Acres.

°/0 of Total
Area under
Crops and

Grass.

Grass.

Grass.

WALKS.

Anglesey

60,850

41'2

69,239

46 '1

77,719

50*9

Brecon ..

61 HO

30'4

51 8!9

25'3

48157

23'7

Cardigan

134,842

48'4

111,395

39 '6

112100

41'2

/

Carmarthen

118,944

27 T>

98,336

22' 1

97,211

22'0

Carnarvon

62.H29

33'4

55,185

28 '1

64,006

35 '2

Denbigh ..

113,299

43'0

103,735

37'9

112,349

42' 1

Flint

56,n;>

43'7

51.639

40'3

52,060

41*0

Glam :>rgan

82272

29'8

64313

22'7

61,689

22 '6

Merioneth

36,804

24'0

3'.',630

20 "0

.H-,,865

23'5

Montgomery

92, 95

36'1

87.704

83-1

79,893

29' 1

Pembroke

104,873

34'5

107,663

337

99,B49

31*8

Radnor . .

44,967

28 '9

41,701

24'6

41,099

25 '2

Total Division V.

969,550

34 '8

875,359

30'3

881,697

31*2

SCOTLAND.

Aberdeen

577,328

95'5

582,755

94'2

597,996

94'8

Banff

158 151

Wfi

157408

92'7

150,660

94 '0

Berwick ..

157.497

81'0

151,778

77'7

147,932

77'3

Clackmannan ..

11,212

71-2

9J79

61*6

8,8*36

58 '0

Elgin or Moray

99,615

94'7

93,090

91'7

512,533

91 '2

Fife .. ..

196,786

79 '5

1M.H84

72 '3

179.526

70*3

Fort'ar

228,701

90'3

221,999

87 4

i 221,973

88'6

Haddington
Kincardine

100,547
114,109

86'2
94'6

93,213
108,79^

82'8
88'6

92,484
110,855

82 '7
92 '0

Kinross

22,35!)

71*1

18,873

58 T>

22,437

63'4

Linlithgow

37,985

64'1

39,735

66 '9

37.780

61'4

Midlothian

91,407

67 '8

90,872

63'7

85,954

6". '3

Nairn . .

21.210

91 '8

22,948

88'7

23,920

92'4

Peebles

29,684

70*5

'-7,27:5

63'8

29,701

60 '0

Perth

260.965

75 T>

254,072

72 '3

233.798

89*0

Roxburgh

137,888

75 Mi

127,537

69 '0

119,568

65'7

Selkirk

16,201

69'8

17,285

en

17,026

56'3

Total Division VI.

2,265,005

84'8

2,201,293

81'2

2,173,009

80'8

Argyll

60,498

50' 1

r>y,776

44'6

56,763

41'4

Ayr..

175 039

55 • ]

1(U 349

59 -q

162 671

50*6

Bute

15,489

60 '8

17^238

07 'I

ie|i6i

62'3

Caithness..

80,334

75'8

82,767

75-9

84,068

74'4

Dumbarton

28,532

or 2

27,869

53'8

30,300

58'8

Dumfries . .

146,400

62 '7

153.286

58 '9

147,361

56'7

Inverness

88,513

68'7

89,553

f)9'7

86,742

58 '3

Kirkcudbright

121,766

67 '9

116,729

or 2

105.237

54'8

Lanark ..

134,370

54 '2

158,001

tl'2

144,810

66*8

Orkney . .

87,949

80"8

88,392

79 '9

90,002

84' I

lienfrew ..

11,872

47 Y,

46334

49*7

•13,878

18'0

Ross and Croinartv .
Shetland . .

114,232

16,628

85*9
28 '5

112,019
16,108

81'5
26'6

111,765
16,143

7!f2
27'1

Stirling . .

66,090

67'9

72,210

60'8

6-5.300

55*9

Sutherland

24,271

78 '3

22,71*

72'5

22,917

70 '0

Wigtown

120,465

82*3

124,941

81'4

113,780

73'6

Total Division VII,

1,325,448

63'4

1.379,780

62' 6

1,2P8,898

58 '8

GRASS with the PERCENTAGE of each in the TOTAI, AREA under CROPS and
as returned on the 4th June in 1881, 1891 and 1901.

Permanent Grass.

1881.

1891.

1901.

Acres.

°/0 of Total
Area undei
Crops and

Acres.

% of Total
Area under
Crops and

!°/o of Total
. „ , Are i under

AtieS. |Crop8and

COUNTIES, ETC.

Grass.

Grass.

Grass.

WALKS.

86,698
140,054
143,749

58 '8
69' 6
51'6

80,936
152,644

169.627

53*9 75,023
74'7 155,405
60 '4 159,872

49' 1

70'3
58*8

Anglesey.
Brecon.
Cardigan.

313,9 7

72*5 347J251 77*9 344,952 7«'0

Carmarthen.

124,742

66'6 141,^50 71'9 117,940 64'8

Carnarvon.

150,135

57'0 169.WJ 62'1 154,641 57'9

Denbigh.

72,672

56 3 7H,641 ' 59'7 74,838 B9'0

Flint

193,665

70*2 218,137

77'3 211,111 77'4

Glamorgan.

116,473

76' 0 1H0.731

80 '0 117,069 76 '5

Merioneth.

163,375
199, 1 1'8

63 '9
65'5

185,1*5
212,192

67'9
66'3

1!'4,H16 ; 7'>'9
213,633 68*2

Montgomery.
Pembroke.

110,775

?ri

127,916

75'4

122.V66

74'8

Radnor.

1,815,413

65 2

2,012,432

69'7

1,941,365

68*8

Total Division V.

SCOTLAND.

27,406

4'5

35,945

6'8

33,019

5'2

Aberdeen.

9,258 5'5

12,36'<

7;3

9,565

6'0

Banff.

36,9:6 19'0

43,684

43,428

22'7

Berwick.

4,546 28 '8

6,132

38'5

6,421

42'0

Clackmannan.

5,611 5'3

50,793 20 T)

8,396
70,354

8'3

27'7

8,942
75,920

8*8

29'7

Elgin or Moray.
Fife.

24,602 9'7

31,916

18*6

28,480 ! 11 '4 Forfar.

16,033 13 '8

19,403

17'2

19,289 17 '3 Haddington.

6,522 5'4

14,012

11-4

9,617 8'0 Kincardine.

9,100 26 '9

13.402

41'5

1?,9.°5 37 '6

Kinross.

21,289 :-i5'9
4X532 32 "2

19,634
51,894

33'1
36 '3

20,878 36 '6
45,712 ! 34'7

Linlithgow.
Midlothian.

2,149 8'2

2,932 11*3

1,966 : 7'6 Nairn.

12,43S 29'5

15,470 ; 36 '2

19,782 i 40'0 Peebles.

84,823 , 24 '5

97,137

27*7

K'4,860 31 '0 Perth.

43,720 ; 24 '1

57,262

31 '0

62,514 1 34'3

Roxburgh.

7,022

30'2

11,014 38'9

13,204

43'7

Selkirk.

405,755

15-2

510,850

18*8

516,530

19'2

Total Division VI.

60,154

49'9

74,137 55'4

80.206

58'6

Argyll.

142,680
9,996

44'9
39 '2

128,141 40*1
8,466 32 '9

158,634
9,800

49'4
37-7

Ayr.
Bute.

25,604 24 '2

26.28S 24'].

28,978 ! 25 '6 ', Caithness.

18.054 38 '8

23.977 . 46'2

21,224 i 41'2 Dumbarton.

86,962 37*3

106;872 i 4T1

112,748 ' 43'3 Dumfries.

40,311 31*3

60,490 40 '3

62,034 41*7 Inverness.

57,471 32-1

73,957 38 '8

86.733 45 '2 Kirkcudbright

113,407 45'8

100,096 38 '8 111,012 43 '4 Lanark.

20,846 19 '2

22,191 20 '1 17,051 15 '9 Orkney.

49,467 5:4 '4

47,417 50'3 47.553 52 MI Eenfrew.

18,827 , 14'1

83,458

18'5 29,296! 20-8 - Ross and Crouiartv

41.809 i 71' 5

44,414

73'4

43,459 | 72 'y Shetland.

48,101 4?'l

46,475

39'2

52,372 i 44'1 Stirling.

6,740 i 21 '7

8,612

27'5 9,821 30 '0

Sutherland.

25,975 j 17 '7 j 28,465

18' 6

40,770 , 26 '4

Wigtown.

766,404 36'6

825,451 37 '4

911.694 41'2

Total Division VII.

:

i

I

122

TABLE III.— NUMBER of CATTLE and SHEEP and the Number per 1,000

BRITAIN as returned on the 4th

Cattle.

1

881.

1

391.

1

901.

COUNTIES, ETC.

Number.

j No. per
1,000 Acres
of Total
Area.

Number.

No. per
1,000 Acres
of Total
Area.

Number.

No. per
1,000 Acres
of Total
Area.

GREAT BRITAIN

5,911,642

104

6,852,821

121

6,763,894

119

ENGLAND ..
WALES
SCOTLAND

4,160,085
655,345
1,096,212

128
139

56

4,870,215
759,309
1,223,297

149
161
63

! 4,791,535
743,078
1,229,281

147

156
63

ENGLAND.
Bedford ..
Huntingdon
Cambridge
Suffolk . .
Essex
Hertford
Middlesex
London ..

32,040
27,020
44,175
03,837
79,264
31,423
25,283

108
118
84
67
75
80
139

36,480
33,619
56.423
73,231
y"-,423
,695
,751

123
146
107
77
83
01
1211

\

33,419
28,794
55,147
78,276
86,097
34.497
15,757
5,290

110
123
100
83
88
85
106
71

Total Division I.« . .

303,048

84

,622"

95

337,277

92

Norfolk
Lincoln
York, E.R

114,348

210.205
82,247

84
119

102

125,236

251,992
89,147

92
143
111

143,543

245,278
86,683

109
145
115

Total Division 1.6 . .

406,800

104

466,374

119

i 475,504

126

Total Division I.

709,848

94

810,996

107

812,781

110

Kent

Surrey

73,-! 09
45495

73
94

83,083
48,817

83
101

73,047
41,349

75
90

Sussex
Berks
Hants

100,352
35,476
67,377

107

7'.*
(5

119.511
47,697
84,964

128
106
82

112,069
43,608
82,668

120
94
79

Total Division ll.a . .

322,109

82

384.672

99

352,741

91

Nottingham
Leicester
Rutland

77.276
J2WH1
17,355

147
242
183

87,446
145,171
20,454

166
284
218

83,447
139,195

18,205

154

261

187

Northampton ..
Buckingham
Oxford
Warwick

111.863
68,034
50,475

92,338

178
148
107
163

131,447
75,118
61,757

109,050

209

161
131
193

121,190

73,390
59,447
106,828

190

153
124
184

Total Division ll.b ..

541,022

166

6:;o,44:5

193

601,702

180

Total Division II.

863,131

120

1,015,115

i 12

954,443

132

Salop
Worcester
Gloucester
Wilts
Monmouth
Hereford

134,813
61,273
111,190
86,989
43,511
77,229

160
130
138
101
118
145

173,931
89.178
128,343

114,376
50,479
94,054

207
146
159
133
137
176

179,160
68,355
123,441
113,275
48,270
92,522

208
142
153
131
138
172

Total Division III.*/

515,005

133

630,361

162

625,023

160

Somerset
Dorset

210,671
76,602

201
122

243,750
92,094

232
147

237,618
86,675

229
139

Devon
Cornwall

233,409
166,742

141

192

274,229

197,694

166

227

278,297
205,033

167
236

Total Division III.6

687,424

164

807,767

192

807,623

192

Total Division III.

1,202,429

149

1,438,128

178

1,432,646

177

Northumberland
Durham
York, N.R
York, W.R

93,576
64,507
156.578
238,810

73
100
115
139

111,253
76,191
179.472
281,112

86
118
132
164

114,521

77,797
172,809
276,626

89
120
127
156

Total Division IV.« . .

553,471

110

648,028

129

641,753

126

Cumberland
Westmorland
Lancaster
Chester
Derby
Stafford

131,735
61,397
£22.988
149,296
133,481
132,309

136
123
185
212
203
181

145,381
68,810
250,8(9
178,832
151,645
162,411

150
137
208
253
231
222

150,384
70,226
240,484
179,218
143,712
165,888

155
139
201
274
221
223

Total Di vision IV.6..

831,206

174

957,948

201

949,912

201

Total Division IV.

1,384,677

141

1,605,976

164

1,591,665

162

123

Acres of the TOTAL AREA in each
June in 1881, 1891 and 1901.

COUNTY and DIVISION of GREAT

Sheep.

COUNTIES, ETC.

1881.

1891.

1901.

No. per
Number.) 'ff^f
Area.

Number.

No. per
1,000 Acres
of Total
Area.

Number.

No. per

1,000 Acres
of Total
Area.

24,581,053

15,382,856
2,466,945
6,731,^52

433

472
522
345

473
592
511
442
312
364
153

28.732,558

17,874,722
3,233,936
7,623,900

12=1,115
119,129
254,45!
! 457.079
332,886
157,188
30,909

506

26,377,200

465

478
718
380

345
365
366
452
271
264
122
54

GREAT BRITAIN.

548
685
392

15,548,057
3,427,734
7,401,409

ENGLAND.

WALES.
SCOfLAND.

139,717
135,824
268,094
419,947
329,360
142,218
27,659

434
519
485
4S1

315

402
170

104,407
85,393
202,307
428,456
265,096
106,952
18,088
4,038

ENGLAND.
Bedford
Huntingdon.
Cambridge.
Suffolk.
Essex.
Hertford.
Middlesex.
London.

Total Division La.

Norfolk.
Lincoln.
York, E.R.

Total Division 1.6.
Total Division I.

Kent.
Surrey.
Sussex.
Berks.
Hants.

Total Division ILa.

Nottingham.
Leicester.
Rutland.
Northampton.
Buckingham.
Oxford.
Warwick.

Total Division IIA
Total Division II.

Salop.
Worcester.
Gloucester.
Wilts.
Monmouth.
Hereford.

Total Division HLa.

Somerset.
Dorset.
Devon.
Cornwall.

Total Division IH.6.
Total Division in

Northumberland.
Durham.
York, N.B.
York, W.R.

Total Division IV.a.

Cumberland.
Westmorland.
Lancaster.
Chester.
Derby.
Stafford.

Total Division IV.6.
Total Division IV.

1,462,819 403

1,479,757

408

! 1,214,737 333

579,691
1,336,147
457,884

427
756
569

608,081
1,318,227
494,478

448
746
614

552,142 420
1,117,899 ! 659
| 467,364 620

2,373,722

604

2,420,786

616

2,137,405 568

3,836,541

508

3,900,543

516

3,352,142

452

952,311
75,649
506,888
241,352
490,254

2,266,454

948
157
543
536

475

986,166
85,333
511,728
241,219
452,908

981
177
548
536
439

856,430
67,452
413,929
170,619
360,710

877
146
414
369
343

580

2,277,354

583

1,869,140

481

216,563
263,383
80,252
404,654
176,746
251,326
207,698

1,600,622

412
515
846
642
378
535
367

245,318 466
361,579 707
89,281 941
163,187 735
232,993 499
281,497 i 599
329,670 582

198,934
i 306,424
80,831
386,400
191,700
231,650
262,506

368
575
831
605
400
482
453

490

2,003,525 I 613

1,658,418

495

3,867,076

330,042
138,382
327,940
603,343
117,402
219,936

539

4,280,879

597

3,527,588

488

392
293
407
702
319
413

514,474
198,672
403,909
630,810
226,294
349,346

612
421

502
734
614
656

469,768
163,801
360,169
486,023
227,932
331,875

545
341
447
562
652
616

1,737,045

448

2,323,505

599

2,039,568

500,569
351,625
815,694
394,301

523

482
562
488
454

494,150
428,900
745,030
414,612

471

684
450
477

640,119
438,567
976,573
469,772

610
699
590
540

2,082,692

496

2,525,031

601

2,062,189 491

3,819,737

473

4,848,536

600

4,101,757

506

826
388
542
392

884,353
190,200
626,051
591,429

685
294
460
345

1,045,291
259,327
770,009
753,288

2,827,915

810
400
565
439

1,067,379
251,898
738,094
694,954

2,292,033

457

564

2,752,323

542

4^4,092
320,316
284,317
72,811
191,243
214,690

499
639
235
103
291
293

606,324
387,299
367,352
132,472
221,680
301,722

2,016,849

625
773
304
188
338
412

609,665
372,248
335,392
102,402
166,265
228,275

627
737
280
156
256
306

1,567,469

328

423

1,814,247

384

3,859,502

394

4,844,764

495

4,566,570

466

(dnntimted on man<>, 124.1

124

TABLE III.— continued.— NUMBER of CATTLE and SHEEP and the Number

GREAT BRITAIN as returned on the

Cattle.

1881.

1891.

1901.

COUNTIES, ETC.

•

No. per

' No. per

No. per

Number

1,000 Acres
of Total

XT, ™u 1,000 Acres
Number. 'o[ Total

Number.

1.0 iO Acres
of Total

Area.

Area.

Area.

WALES.

•

Anglesey
Brecon

44,918

35 022

232
76

51,296

41,682

265
91

55,711
41379

315

88

Cardigan

61.452

139

159

70,428

159

Carmarthen .. 106,669

176

124J068

205

121,536

207

Carnarvon

51,359

139

63,197

171

56,120

153

Denbigh ..

57,344

146

69,754

178

68,651

161

Flint

';8 496

168

35,372

209

37 053

227

Glamorgan

52.934

97

60.674

111

5^59

108

Merioneth

39,395

102

40,691

106

38,35 1

91

Montgomery . .

62,340

128

72,449

149

72,832

143

Pembroke

86,519

22d

95,375

242

91,672

233

Radnor

28,897

101

34,081

123

33,083

110

Total Division V.

655,345

189

759,309

161

743.078

156

SCOTLAND.

Aberdeen

157,477

125

174,048

138

180,927

143

Banff

41,952

96

46,920

114

44,861

111

Berwick ..

14.042

47

17.744

60

16,905

58

Clackmannan

3,496

110

4,053

129

3,685

105

Elgin or Moray

21,241

71

21,987

71

22,671

73

Fife

39,o7i>

119

47.681

151

51,352

153

Forfar

45^05

80

51861

92

55,772

99 •

Haddington

9,062

51

8196

47

9,890

58

Kincardine •

25,013

101

20.9911

109

26497

108

Kinross . .

5,555

112

6,072

122

7,162

128

Linlithgow

10,078

124

12,637

164

12,366

160

Midlothian

18.250

78

22,460

97

19.865

85

Nairn

6,059

44

0,518

52

6,247

60

Peebles . .

5,827

26

7,003

31

7,304

32

Perth

76,634

46

80,727

49

75,900

46

Roxburgh

16.488

38

18.676

44

17,859

42

Selkirk . .

2.656

16

3,555

21

3,084

18

Total Division VI.

501,711

75

557,128

85

562,347

86

Argyll

60,442

29

62,793

30

60.645

30

Ayr..

88.332

120

103,400

141

101,369

139

Bute . . . . 7438

52

9,667

69

9,512

68

Caithness

20.023

44

22,009

49

22,521

50

Dumbarton

12,833

74

15 403

92

14,945

87

Dumfries

52,078

74

61,768

90

63,974

93

Inverness

52,567

19

50,272

19

51,483

18

Kirkcudbright
Lanark .

40,737
64,276

67
113

51,329
76.393

88
134

50,361
75021

86
135

Orkney

26,103

26,747

*

28,728

115

Renfrew .

25,049

154

28,728

179

i/6 997

173

Ross and Cromarty . .
Shetland .

43,131
19.117

21

t

43327

18,884

21

44J367

19.050

22
53

Stirling . . . 28,897

97

33,1(52

112

34,269

115

Sutherland . . I 12,87n

11

12,295

9

12,210

9

Wigtown . . . . 40,603

124

49,432

158

51,883

163

Total Division VII. j ;~9 J,f>oi

46

666,169

52

666,934

52

The Total Areas of Orkney and Shetland

125

per 1,000 Acres of the TOTAL AREA in each COUNTY and DIVISION of
4th June in 1881, 1891 and 1901.

Sheep.

-

1881.

1891.

1901.

; No. t>er

No. per

No. per

OOUNTIBS, WO.

Number.

1,000 Acres
of Total

Number.

1,000 Ar-res
of Total

Number.

1,000 Acres
of Total

Area.- -

Area.

Area.

WALES.

38,146
329,628
180,918

197
673

408

76,398
464,855
232.H63

395
1,010
52.5

83,849
488,195
272,404

475
1,040
615

Anglesey.
Brecon.
Cardigan.

176,503

291 255,048

421

274,255

467

Carmarthen.

198,'tfl

537 253,683

692

263,589

728

Carnarvon.

211,637

617 331,819

84(5

342,314

803

Denbigh.

55,366

327 81,145

481

84,348

517

Flint.

253,555

463

307,398

f>62

330,818

638

Glamorgan.

394,370
298331

85,738

1,024
614
218

416,607
399,239
128,786

1,081
822
327

430,356
435,011
138,429

1,020
853
352

Merioneth.
Montgomery.
Pembroke.

214,549

776

283,995

1,027

281,168

934

Radnor.

2,466,945

522

3,233 936

685

3,427,734

718

Total Division V.

SCOTLAND.

136,692

108

237,894 189

226,680

179

Aberdeen.

50,733

116

«4,U2 204

64,247 158

Banff.

263,961 888

308,379 1,041

325,324 1,107

Berwick.

9,537 299

11,125 354

12,390 352

Clackmannan.

48,587 143
69,275 211

69,330 225
118,301 374

67,312 218
115,029 354

Elgin or Moray.
Fife.

119,386 210

164,841 293 161,806 288

Forfar.

111,929 625
L'4,966 101

133,705 , 770
47,385 192

127,047 741
44,600 182

Haddington.
Kincardine.

26,530 533

36,316

729

35,788 641

Kinross.

17,605
154,966

217
660

35,932
188,547

465
811

23,782
185,759

308
785

Linlithgow.
Midlothian.

15,980

116

20,395 162 21.284

204 Nairn.

189,442

831

197,1191 865

202,018

905 . Peebles. .

675,081

406

769,556 465

723,256

443 Perth.

4t58,075
159,036

1,092
955

512,794 1,197
163,916 985

539,486 1,289
183,796 l 1,065

Roxburgh.
Selkirk.

2,541,781

380

3,099,649

472

3,059,604

467

Total Division VT.

999,732
344,779

480

469

1,068,652

369,190

505

506

923,143
381,885

457

522

Argyll.
Ayr.

40,139

279

52056 371

44,908 320

Bute.

88,372

194

127,211 285

131,196 i 291

Caithness.

69,447

402

78,029 , 462

70,288 411

Dumbarton.

463,751

664

530.254 774

579.896 840

Dumfries.

686,307

252

675,154 249

596,263 214

Inverness.

36 ',289
208,632

594
367

405255
24*1,542

695
433

406,880 699
242,306 427

Kirkcudbright.
Lanark.

29.0o4

39,511

35,327

142

Orkney.

31,237

192

• 39529

246

39,813

255

Renfrew.

345,578
72,15 >

171

329.336
101,629

161

310.745
115,311

152
318

Ross and Cromarty.
Shetland.

109,233

3^6

121.787

423

1-24.178

418

Stirling.

214,534

178

216,169

160

205,746

153

Sutherland.

119,221

364

132,917

424

130,920

416

Wigtown.

4,189,471

327

4,524,251

351

4,341,805

336

Total Division VIL

were not shown separately at these date».

126

TABLE IV. — NUMBER of AGRICULTURAL HOLDINGS in each DIVISION

DECREASE (— )

(I.)— NUMBER of HOLDINGS above 1 acre and not exceeding 5 acres.

Divisions.

1885.*

1895.

1905.

Increase (+) or
Decrease ( - )
in 1905 as
compared with
1895.

GREAT i

BRITAIN . .

No.
135,736

No.
117,96=!

No.

110,259

No.
- 7,709

Division
Division
Division
Division

Division
Division
Division

No. I.o.
b.

No. ILfl.

b.

No. IILtf.

b.

No. IV.a.
b.

No.V.
No. VI.
No. VII.

Eastern
North Eastern

Total

South Eastern
East Midland ..

Total

West Midland..
South Western

Total

Northern
North Western

Total

Wales . .
East Scotland
West Scotland

11,267
13,568

9,347
10,842

8,509
10,108

- 838
- 731

24,835

20,181)

18,617

- 1,572

9,988
10,115

8,954
H,64C

9,018
7,952

+ 64
- 694

20,103

17,600

16,970

- 630

14/-V72
13,907

13,239
10,973

12,379
10,539

- 860
- 434

28,779

24,212

22,918

-1,294

13,076
16,436

10,937
14,117

10,034
12,693

- 903
- 1,424

29,512

25,054

22,727

- 2,327

11,044
6,918
14,545

10,763
6,143

14,007

10,342
5,454
13,231

- 421

- 689
- 776

(II.)— NUMBER oi' HOLDINGS above 5 acres and not exceeding SO acres.

Divisions.

1885. 1895.

i

1905.

Increase ( + ) or
Decrease (-)
in U»05 as
compared with
1885.

Increase (+) or
Decrease ( - )
in 1905 as
compared with
1895.

GREAT BRITAIN

No. No.
232,955 235,481

No.
232,966

No.
+ Jl

No.
- 2,515

Division No. I.a

b ..

14,218 14,390
19,625 19,367

13,914

18,742

- 304

- 883

- 476
- 625

Total ..

33,843 33,757

32,656

- 1,187

- 1,101

Division No. IL« ..

b .,

14,882 15,869
16,948 : 17.014

16,810
16,430

+ 1,928

- 518

+ 941
- 5S4

Total ..

31,830 32,883

3H.240

+ 1,410

+ 357

Division No. III.*/ . .

// . .

19,051 20,089
21,659 i 21,589

20,141
21,148

+ 1,090
- 511

+ 52
- 441

Total ..

40,710 i ' 41,678

41,289

+ 579

- 389

Division No. IV.a . .

b .. ' ..

27,359 26,674
36,689 35,599

25,394
34,043

- 1,965
- 2,646

- 1,280
- 1,556

Total ..

64,048 ! 62,273

59,437

- 4,011

- 2,836

Division No. V.
Division No. VI
Division No. VII

29,715 30,969
13,729 13,860
19,080 20,061

31,671
13,548
21,125

+ 1,953
- 181
+ ",045

+ 702
- 312
+ 1,064

In 1885 holdings of 1 acre exactly were included. In 1895 as the result of a special enquiry

127

of GREAT BRITAIN in 1885, 1895 and 1905, with the INCREASE (+) or
in 1905.

(HI.)— NUMBER of HOLDINGS above 50 acres and not exceeding 3OO"acres.

Divisions.

1885.

1895.

1905.

Increase (+)or
Decrease ( - )
in 1905 as
compared with
1885.

Increase (+) or
Decrease ( - )
in 1905 as
compared with

1895.

GREAT BRITAIN .. ..

No.
144,288

No.
147,870

No.
150,561

No
+ 6,273

No.
. -+2,691 -

Division No. La . .
b ..

10,932
10,418

11,134

10,795

11,322
11,249

+ 390
+ 831

+ 188
+ 454

Total ..

21,350

21,929

22,571

+ 1,221

+ 642

Division No. II.« . .

b ..

9,947
11,602

10,179
11,972

10,478
12,247

+ 531
+ 645

+ 299
+ 275. .

Total ..

21,549

22,151

22,725

+ 1,176

+ 574

Division No. III.-*

b

12,302
15,610

12,627
16,036

13,069
16,548

+ 767
+ 938

+ 442
+ 512

Total ..

27,912

28,663

29,617

+ 1,705

+ 954

Division No. IV.rt..
b..

14,m6
18,726

14,941
19,271

15,165

19,420

+ 629
+ 694

+ 224
+ 149

Total ..

33,262

34,212

34,585

+ 1,323

+ 373

Division No. V.
Division No. Vf
Division No. VII

17,888
11,972
10,355

18,113
12,275

10.5-J7

18,008
12,468
10,587

+ 120
+ 496
+ 232

- 105
4- 193
+ 60

(IV.)— NUMBER of HOLDINGS above 3OO acres.

Divisions.

1885.

1895.

1905.

Increase (+) or
Decrease ( — )
in 1905 as
compared with
1885.

Increase (+) or
Decrease ( - )
in 1905 as
compared with
1895.

GREAT BRITAIN

No.
19,361

No.

18,787

No.
17,918

No.
- 1,446

No.

- 869

Division No. I.a ..

b ..

2,536

2,860

2,488
2,820

2,338

2,720

- 198
- 140

- 150
- 100

Total ..

5,396

5,308

5,058

- 338

- 250

Division No. II.«

b ..

2,206

2,085

2,124
1,972

1,973
1,938

- 323
- 147

- 151

- 34

Total ..

4,381

4,096

3,911

- 470

- 185

Division No. Ill//
b

2,269
1,494

2,202
1,448

2,056
1,358

- 213

- 136

- 146

- 90

Total ..

3,763

3,630

3,414

- 349

- 236

Division No. IV.rt..

/>..

1,712

896

1,673
851

1,616
793

- 96
- 103

- 57
- 58

Total ..

2,608

2,524

2,409

- 199

- 115

Division No. V
Division No. VI
Division No. VII

460
1,790
966

443
1,744
l/v-2

408
1,725
993

- 52
- 65

+ 27

- 35
- 19

- 29

it was found that the number of holdings cf exactly 1 acre in Great Britain was 16,709.

128

TABLE V.— AGRICULTURAL HOLDINGS above 1 acre but not exceeding
GREAT BRITAIN in 1895 and 1905, expressed as percentages

1895.

1905.

Counties in order of

percentage of 1 50 acren

in 1905,

1-5 5-50

1-50

1-5

5-50

1-50

acres.

acres. acres.

acres.

acres.

acres.

i

GREAT BRITAIN

%
22'7

% • %
45-3 68-0

%
21-6

%
45-5

%
67-1

ENGLAND

22'9

449 67-8

21-8 44 8

666

WALES

17-8

51-4 69-2

17-1 524

69'5

SCOTLAND

25-3

426 67-9

23-6

43 8

67-4

ENGLAND.

Yorks;W.R

21-0

56-1

77-1

20-3

55 T>

75-9

Middlesex

29-4

47-8

77'2

27-4

47-5

749

Derby

21-8

54-0

75-8

21-1

53-5

74-6

Worcester

33-6

40-9

74-5

32-4

42-2

74-6

Lancaster

15-4

59-3

74-7

15-1

58-6

73-7

Stafford

24-9

49-6

74-5

22-7

50-0

72-7

Cornwall ,

24-0

49-7

73-7

21-8

50-3

72-1

Chester

27-2

46-4

73T,

25-3

46-4

71-7

Hants

29-1

41-5

70-6

29-0

42-5

71-5

Surrey

26-1

45-5

71-6

25-6

4.V3

70-9

Lincoln

24-3

48'1

724

228

47-5

70-3

Bedford ..

30-3

41-1

71-4

28-5

41-5

70-0

Cambridge 27'2

45'5

72-7

24-2

45-7

69-9

Salop

26T>

43-0

70-1

24'8

44-5

69-3

Monmouth

20-1

49-1

69-2

19-4

49-0

68-4

Gloucester 31-0

39-0

70-0

28-9

39-3

68-2

Nottingham 22-4

48-1

70-5

20-9

4(5-6

67-5

Norfolk

25-9

41'6

67-5

25-1

41-6

66-7

Somerset ...

25-3

13*0

68-3

23-9

42-6

66-5

Leicester ...

18-8

is-i

66-9

19-4

4(>-5

65-9

Kent

20-6

44-5

65-1

20-0

45-7

65-7

Warwick ...

23-8

428

66-6

22-6

43-1

65-7

Sussex

Sl-6

41-9

63-5

203

44-5

64-8

Berks

25-2

39-1

64-3

25-4

39-0

64'4

Huntingdon

23-0

426

65-6

21-7

42-1

63-8

Hereford

23-2

41-8

65-0

21-6

42-1

63-7

Durham

178

45-4

63-2

17-7

45-2

62-9

Wilts

25-9

38-1

64-0

24'6

38-2

62-8

Dorset

22-9

40-6

63-5

24-4

38-1

<;2-5

Hertford

27-6

33-6

61-2

27-6

M4-2

61-8

Buckingham

24-1 36-0

601

22-9 38-5

01-4

Yorks, KB

21-4 41-3

62-7

19-4

4M

60-5

„ E.R
Oxford

24 1
22-9

36-5 <;0-6
37-0 59-9

23-3
21-3

36-7
36-9

60-0
58-2

Northampton

20-6

40-0 60-6

18-1

39-7

57-8

Essex .

21-2

34-4 55-6

21-3

35-4

56'7

Rutland

17-6

45-3

62-9

13-7

43-0 56-7

Devon

16-9

38-5

55-4

17-6

38 0 1 55-6

Suffolk

22-1

33-3

55-4

20-5

33-3 53-8

\Ve.-tmorland

12-9

42-7

55-6

ll'l

42-5 53-6

Northumberland

1B-1

3S-0

54-1

15-3

37-0 52-3

Cumberland

14'4

37-5

51-9

13-4

38-7 52-1

129

5 acres, and above 5 but not exceeding 50 acres in each COUNTY of
of the TOTAL NUMBEU of HOLDINGS in the COUNTY.

Counties in order of
percentage of 1-50 acres
in 1905.

1895.

1905.

1-5
acres.

5-50
acres.

1-50
acres.

1-5
acres.

5-50
acres.

1-50
acres.

WALES.

%

°/c

%

o/o

o/c

o/o

Carnarvon

27'2

56-2

83-4

24'9

60-4

85-3

Anglesey

21-1

57-6

78-7

21-4

58-1

79-5

Flint

28-7

50-8

79-5

26-4

52-1

78-5

Cardigan

17-5

52-8

70-3

18-8

53-2

720

Glamorgan

18-7

50-1

68-8

17-7

51-3

69-0

Denbigh ...

17-1

51-7

68-8

16-6

52-0

68-6

Pembroke

15-3

53'5

68-8

13-9

54-6

68-5

Montgomery

18-1

48-8

66-9

16-5

49-8

66-3

Merioneth

12-8

53-7

66-5

11-3

54-3

65-6

Carmarthen

11-2

50-8

62-0

111)

51-5

63-4

Brecon

12-9

40-8

53-7

12-3

40'5

52-8

Radnor ...

13-1

40-3

53-4

12-4

40-0

52-4

SCOTLAND.

Shetland

20-0

77-4

97-4

19-7

77-7

97-4

Sutherland

64-9

31-2

96-1

60-3

36-0

96-3

Inverness

40-0

51-6

91-6

40-0

52-5

92-5

Ross

59'8

32-6

92-4

51-7

40'4

92-1

Orkney

14-7

70'9

85-6

14-1

71-7

85-8

Caithness . . - ...

24-8

59-3

84-1

22-3

61-3

83-6

Argyll

32-6

47-1

79-7

32-0

46-2

78-2

Bute

17-0

61-8

78-8

16-7

59-6

76-3

Banff

20-8

51-7

72-5

20-1

50-3

70-4

Elgin

23-4

44-0

67-4

22-3

43-6

65-9

Aberdeen

14-4

49-2

<>3-fl

13-1

49-0

62-1

Selkirk

17-7

38-5

56-2

18-1

38-6

56-7

Roxburgh

21-8

33-4

68-2

14-9

41-7

56-6

Perth

26-9

29-8

56*7

23-0

31-6

54-6

Dumfries

21-8

30-4

52-2

24-2

29-8

54-0

Kincardine

• 13-4

41-3

54-7

12-0

41-2

53-2

Nairn

10-2

44-3

54-5

10-5

42-3

52-8

Dumbarton

15-9

35-1

51-0

17-4

33-7

51-1

Forfar

1.V7

35-8

51-5

15-9

35-0

50-9

Clackmannan

21-8

34-5

55-8

20T)

303

50-8

Fife

20-9

30'fi

51-5

1!C1

29-5

48-6

Stirling

14-9

33-0

47-9

13-2

35-2

48-4

Midlothian

15-9

32-0

48'5

1 5-9

30'fi

46-5

Wigtown...

13-2

30-8

44-0

1.V7

28-7

44-4

Kirkcudbright ...

14-7

29-8

44-5

13-0

31-2

44-2

Lanark

12-0

33-5

45'5

10-0

33'5

43-5

Haddington

14-7

24T>

39-2

16-0

24-2

40-2

Kinross ...

13-<>

23-5

:V7'1

15-0

24-7

39-7

Renfrew

12-1

27'9

40-0

10-7

29'0

39-7

Peebles

8-0

270

35-0

9-8

29-2

39-0

Berwick

15-8

23-4

39-2

12-9

25-6

38-5

Ayr

9-1)

27-1

37-0

9-2

28-3

37-5

Linlithgow ... ... 12-9

23'9

36-8

9-5

23-6

33-1

130

APPENDIX B.

LIST OF AGRICULTURAL CORRESPONDENTS WHO HAVE
FURNISHED REPLIES TO THE BOARD'S INQUIRIES.

Division Za.

Name of Correspondent.

Address.

BEDFORDSHIRE.
Mr. G. Humphreys..,

Mr. A. Inskij)

HUNTINGDONSHIRE.
Mr. II. L. Blunt ...
Mr. If. Oranfield

Mr. A. Fuller

CAMBRIDGESHIRE.
Mr. II. B. Jenyns ...
Mr. R. Stephenson...

ISLE OF ELY.
Mr. J. L. Luddington
Mr. VV. W. West ...

SUFFOLK.

Mr. R. L. Everett ...
Mr. G. Fiske
Mr. A. Harwood
Mr. O. D. Johnson...
Mr. L. J. Peto

Brogboro Park, Ridgmonnt, Aspley Guise,

S.O.
Clifton I'nry, Biggleswade.

Orton Longueville, Peterboro'.
Buckden, Hunts.
Ramsey, Hunts.

Bottisham Hall, Cam bridge.
Burwell, (Jambs.

Audley House, Littleport, Ely.
Needham Hall, Wisbech.

Rushmere, Ipswich.

Bramford, Ipswich.

Ackworth House, E. Bergholt, Colchester.

Burro w, Bury St. Edmunds.

Blundeston House, Lowestoft,

131

Namo of Correspondent.

Address.

ESSEX.

Mr. A. B. Croxoii

Mr. W. C. Emson

Mr. W. W. Glenny

Mr. T. W. Goodchild

Mr. G. McMillan

Mr. H. Rankin

HERTFORDSHIRE.

Mr. J. Milne

Mr. E. Pigg

Mr. W. A. Front

Mr. A. Rae

MIDDLESEX AND LONDON.

Mr. W. G. Lobjoit

Mr. C. l)e Salis

NORFOLK.

Mr. J. B. Ellis

Mr. B. B. Sapwell

Mr. H. Tallent

Mr. Geo. Symonds ...

LINCOLNSH IRE.— HOLLAND.

Mr. F. Martin

Mr. W. H. West

LINCOLNSHIRE. — KESTEVEN.
Mr. W. H. Morton

25170

The Limes, Burnham-on-Crouch, S.O.
Strethall Hall, Saffron Walden.
Cecil House, Barking.

Hill House, Gt. Yeldbam, Castle Hedingham,

S.O.
Bearman's Farm, Ingatestone, S.O.

Broomhills, Rochford, S.O.

Estate Office, Knebworth, Stevenage.

The Hall, Chipping, Buntingford, S.O.

Sawbridgeworth.

Brook House, Turnford, Broxbourne, S.O.

Heston Farm, Hounslow.
Dawley Court, Uxbridge.

Division Zb.

West Barsham, Walsingham, S.O.
Sankence, Aylsham, S.O.
West Acre, Swaffham.
Thelveton, Scole, S.O.

Hubbert's Bridge, Boston.
Somerset House, Holbeach Marsh.

Washingboro' Manor, Lincoln.

I 3

132

.Name of Correspondent.

Address.

LINCOLNSHIRE.— LINDSEY.
Mr. G. A. Bell wood

Mr. W. C. Brown

Maj. G. A. Browne

Mr. Wm. Frankish

Mr. C. W. Tindall

YORKSHIRE.— EAST RIDING

Mr. H. Hawking

Mr. H. Pearson

KENT.
Mr. E. Day

Mi-. Arthur Finn ...
Mr. Albert Love
Mr. <!. Whitehead ...

SURREY.
Mr. S. R. Whitley ...

SUSSEX.

Mr. J. E. Brand ...
Mr. A. Pullen-Burrv
Mr. C. W. Chandler
Mr. H. W. Drewitt...
Mr. J. B. Grant ...
Mr. W. A. Haviland
Mr. W. F. Tngram ..,

Bishop Norton, Kirton Lindsey, S.O.
Appleby via Doncaster.
Maidenwell House, Louth.
Culme, St. Catherine's, Lincoln.
Wainfleet, S.O.

Raskelfe, Basing wold, Yorks.
Huttoii Buscel, West Ayton, S.O.

Division IZa.

The Thorn, Marden, S.O.

West broke House, Lydd, S.O.

Capel Hill Farm, Eastchnrch, Sheerness.

Banning House, Maidstonr.

Little Westlands, Lingiield, S.O.

The Grove, Hooe, Battle, S.O.
The Rectory House, Sompting, Worthing.
Clarence House, Hayward's Heatli.
(!ohvorth Manor, near Chichester.
I New Park, Nuthurst. Horshani.
Brightling Place, Brightling, S.O.
2, St. Andrews Place, Le,v<-s.

133

Name of Correspondent.

Address.

BERKSHIRE.
Mr. Gco. Adams ...
Mr. T. Latham
Mr. J. Lousley

HAMPSHIRE.
Mr. G. Judd

Mr. W. F. Perkins ..

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE.

Mr. W. Beard

Mr. H. Smith, Junr.

Mr. J. Walker

LEICESTERSHIRE.

Mr. J. C. Bassett

Mr. R, C. Cooper

Mr. J. Longwill

RUTLAND.
Mr. N. W. Wortley

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE.

Mr. T. A. Dickson

Mr. J. Rooke

SOKE OF PETERBOROUGH.
Mr. F. W. Griffin

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE.
Mr. W. H. Denchfield
Mr. Jno. Treadwell

Wadley House, Faringdon.
Dorchester, Oxon.
Hampstead N orris, Newbury.

Cocum, Barton Stacey, S.O.

Bridge House, Boldre, near Lymington.

Division lib.

Bridge House, Worksop.

The Cottage, Cropwell Butler, Nottingham.

Market Place, Retford.

Castle Yiew, Leicester.
Waltham, Melton Mowbray.
Pickwell, near Oakham.

Ridlington, Uppingham.

Sywell Hall, Northampton.
Weldon Grange, Cor by, Kettering.

Boro Fen, Peterboro'.

Burston House, Aston Abbotts, Aylesbury.
Upper Winchendon, Aylesbury.

134

Name of Correspondent.

Address.

OXFORDSHIRE.
Mr. W. H. Ashhurst
Mr. E. Greaves
Mr. J. P. King
Mr. J. B. Kingscote

WARWICKSHIRE.
Mr. S. P. Graves ...

Mr. D. Lane

Mr. J. W. Lea

Mr. W. H. Sale ...

Mr. J. Parker-Toone

SHROPSHIRE.

Mr. W. H. Lander...

Mr. J. Lee

Mr. E. H.- Morris ...

Mr. B. Starrier

Mr. T. H. Thursfiekl

WORCESTERSHIRE.

Mr. E. V. Wheeler..,

GLOUCESTERSHIRE.
Mr. T. H. Hulbert...
Mr. W. Friday
Mr. J. M. White ...

WILTSHIRE.
Mr. J. Carpenter ...

Mr. J. G. Perrett ,

Waterstock, Wheatley, Oxford.
Upper Heyford, Banbury.
Northstoke, near Wallingford.
Stratton Audley, Bicester.

Hill House, Southam, Rugby.
Charlecote, near Warwick.
Thelsford, Warwick.
Arden Hill, Atherstone.
Higli Cross, Rugby.

Division ZZZa.

Tibberton, Newport, Shropshire.
The Crimps, Ellesmere.
Chirbury, S.O.

Peplow Hall, Market Drayton.
The Grange, Much Weiilock, S.O.

Newnham Court, Tenbury.

Dumbleton, Evesham.
Brockworth Court, Gloucester.
Highfield, Chesterton, Cirencester.

The Manor House, Stratford-sub-Castle,

Salisbury.
Coulstori, Westbury.

135

Name of Correspondent.

Address.

WILTSHIRE— continued.
Mr. E. P. Squarey ...
Mr. J. B. Stevens ...
Mr. W. Stratton ...
Mr. F. Smith

MONMOUTHSHIRE.
Mr. R. Stratton ...
Mr. H. Williams ...
Mr. L. C. Wrigley ...

HEREFORDSHIRE.
Mr. J. Riley
Mr. A. P. Turner ...
Mr. J. H. Wootton

The Moot, Downton, Salisbury.

The Manor, Ogbourne St. George, Marl-
borough.
Kingston Deverill, Bath.

" The Sands," Calne.

The Duffryn, near Newport, Mon.

Red House, Llansantffraed, Abergavenny.

Trelleck Grange, Chepstow.

Putley Court, Ledbury.
The Leen, Pembridge, S.O.
Byford, Hereford.

SOMERSET.
Mr. A. Berry

Mr. G. Gibbons

Mr. S. Kidner

Mr. R. M. P. Parsons

DORSET.

'Mr. E. W. F. Castleman
Mr. W. Cross
Mr. H. Duke
Mr. J. T. Homer ...

DEVONSHIRE.
Mr. E. F. Chamier ...
Mr. J. N. Franklin...

Division ZZZb.

Cannington, Bridgwater.
Tunley Farm, Bath.
Bickley, Milverton, S.O.
Misterton, Crewkernc.

Chettle, Blandford.

Manor Farm, Mintern Cerue, Dorchester.

Dorchester.

Hemsworth, Wimborne.

Rolle Estate Office, Exmouth.
Greenend, Plymtree, Cullompton.

136

Name of Correspondent.

Address.

DEVONSHIRE — continued.

Mr. G. Norman

Mr. J. Oag

CORNWALL.
Mi. M. P. Menhinick

Mr. H. B. Paull

Mr. J. Rawling

Mr. J. Richards

Mr. J. Thomas

NORTHUMBERLAND.

Mr. W. J. Bolam ...

Mr. F. 0. Chrisp ...

Mr. R. C. Hedley

Mr. C. Marshall

Mr A. F. Nichol

Mr. J. Robson

DURHAM.
Mr. T. B. Bainbridge

Mr. R. Brydon

Mr. H. L. Fyfe

Mr. P. B. Kent

Mr. W. A. Weightman ...

YORKSHIRE.-NORTH RlDING.

Mr. T. F. King

Mr. C. Robinson

Mr. H. W. Walton

Mr. J. Wood

Swimbridge, Barnstaple
Hillside, Okehampton.

Burniere, Wadebridge, S.O.
Tehidy Office, Camborue.
Oldwit, Launceston.
Tower Farm, St. Buryan, S.O.
Tregays, Lostwithiel.

Division IVa.

I Berwick-on Twuud.
Prendwick, Whittingham, S.O.
Corbridge-on-Tyne, S.O.
Broomhaugb, Riding Mill-on-Tyne, S.O.
Bradford, Belford.
Newton, Bellingham, S.O.

North Field House, Wynyard, Stockton-on-

Tees.
The Dene, Seaham Harbour, Sunderland.

Raby Estates Office, Staindrop, Darlington.

Ingleside, Darlington.

Hall Farm, Silksworth, Sunderland.

Wynbury, Ley burn, S.O.
Tollesby Farm, Marton, S.O.
Coalsgarth, Richmond (Yorks.).
Estate Office, Brandsby, Easingwold.

137

Name of Correspondent.

Address.

YORKSHIRE.— WEST RIDING.

Mr. F. W. Beadon

Mr. Wm. Kilby

Colonel W. W. Maude
Mr. Jno. Thompson

CUMBERLAND.
Mr. W. Dobson ...
Mr. R. Shanks
Mr. R. Tinniswood...
Mr. A. Watt

WESTMORLAND.
Mr. F. Punchard ...
Mr. J. Wakefield ...

LANCASHIRE.
Mr. P. Blundell ...
Mr. J. J. Hornby ...
Mr. W. S. Nuttall ...
Mr. S. T. Rosbotham
Mr. J. Towers

CHESHIRE.

Mr. Jos. Beecroft ...
Mr. C. B. Davies ...
Mr. R. 8. Ravenshaw
Mr. J. Wright

Ramsden Estate Offices, Huddersfield.
Notton, Barnsley.
The Fleets, Rylstone, Skipton.
East Rigton, Leeds.

Division ZVb.

Howgate, Brampton, Carlisle.
Aigle Gill, Allonby, Maryport.
Rose Bank Farm, Dalston, Carlisle.
Muncaster Estate Office, Ravenglass, S.O.

Underley Estate Office, Kirkby Lonsdale.
Sedgewick, Kendal.

Ream Hills, Weeton, Preston.

Knowsley, Prescot.

Old Hall Farm, Bolton.

Stanley Farm, Bickerstaffe, Orrnskirk.

Lawsons Farm. Nether Kellet, Carnforth.

Bank fields, Easthan1, Birkenhead.
Eardswick Hall, Middle wich.
Tranmere Hall, Tranmere, Birkenhead.
27, King Edward Street, Macclesfield.

138

Name of Correspondent.

Address.

DERBYSHIRE.
Mr. R. Finney
Mr. A. P. Payne-Gallwey
Mr. R. Waite

STAFFORDSHIRE.
Mr. E. Averill
Capt. W. S. B. Levett
Mr. T. Carrington Smith
Mr. Thos. Wood

ANGLESEY.
Mr. T.N.Jones ...

Mr. Griffith F. Roberts

BRECON.

Mr. S. H. Cowper Coles
Mr. Owen Price

CARDIGANSHIRE.
Mr. W. Edwards ...
Mr. J. Jones

CARMARTHENSHIRE.
Mr. D. W. Drummond
Mr. J. Rees...
Mr. D. Thomas

CARN ARVONSH IRE.
Mr. T. E. Griffith ...
Mr. T. Roberts

Hemington, Derby.

Estate Office, Castle Hill, Bakewell.

Green Trees, Duffield, Derby.

Kings' Bromley, Lichfield.
Milford Hall, Stafford.
Admaston, Rugeley.
Croxden Abbey, Rocester, S.O.

Division V.

Penrhos, Llaiigefni, S.O.

Trefarthen, Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, S.O.

Estate Office, Penmyarth, Crickhowell.
Xantyrharii, Cray, S.O.

University College of Wales, Aberystwith.
Cwmerc Farm, Felinl'acb, S.O.

Cawdor Estate Office, Ferry side, S.O.
Dolgwm, Llanybyther, S.O.
Dolfallt, Llandovery, SO.

Gallt-y-Bereu, Pwllheli.
Tanyfynwent, Aber, Bangor.

139

Name of Correspondent.

Address.

DENBIGHSHIRE.
Mr. John Roberts ...
Mr. Gomer Roberts

GLAMORGAN.
Mr. R. Forrest
Mr. A. B. Paddison

MERIONETHSHIRE.
Mr. W. R. M. Wynne

MONTGOMERYSHIRE.

Mr. W. F. Addie ...
Mr. Geo. Macqueen
Mr. J. R. Pryse ...

PEMBROKESHIRE.
Mr. T. Rule Owen ...
Mr. W. Richards ...
Mr. J. C. Yorke ...

RADNORSHIRE.
Mr. B. P. Lewis

ABERDEENSHIRE.
Mr. J. Ainslie

Mr. J. Bruce

Mr. Alex. Strachan...

BANFFSHIRE.
Mr. G. Bruce

Mr. W. Livingstone

Plas Heaton Farm, Trefnant, S.O.
Cefn Griolen, Llanelidan, Ruthin.

Windsor Estate Office, St. Fagans, Cardiff.
Queen Street, Neath.

Peniarth, Towyn, S.O.

Powis Castle Estate Office, Welsh pool.
Tanyrallt, Buttiugton, Welshpool.
Pantarain, Llaugurig, Llanidloes, S.O.

Land Agency Office, Haverfordwest.
Hasguard Hall, Little Haven, S.O.
Trecwyn, Fishguard, S.O.

Noyadd, Rhayader.

Division VI.

Pitfour Estates Office, Mintlaw, S.O.

Coilithie, Gartly, S.O.

Western Fowlis, Alford, Aberdeen.

Tochineal Farm, Cullen, S.O.
Newton of Mountblairy, Turriff.

140

Name of Correspondent.

Address.

BERWICKSHIRE.
Di. R. S. Gibb
Mr. J. A. Somervail

ELGINSHIRE or MORAYSHIRE
Mr. G. Muirhead

FIFE.

Mr. J. Ballingall

Mr. Jas. Millar

Mr. B. E. Morrison

Mr. G. Prentice

FORFARSHIRE.

Mr. J. Duncan

Mr. D. Hume

Mr. J. Kydd

H.MtDINfiTONSHlRE.

Mr. J. W. Hope

Mr. J. Shields

KlNCARDINESHIRE.

Mr. W. Brown

Mr. J. Hart

Mr. G. G. Walker

KINROSS-SHIRE.
Mr. D. Tod

LlNLITHGOWSHIRE.

Mr. A. Glendinning

Boon, Lander, 8.0.
Broomdykes, Chirnside, S.O.

Gordon-Richmond Estate* Office, Fochabers.

Dunbog, Newburgh.
Waulkmill, Charlestown, Dunfermline.
Bonnytown, Stravithie, 8.0.
Strathore, Thornton, S.O.

Muirhouses, KiiTiemuir.
Barrelwell, Brucliin.
Scryne, Carnoustie, S.O.

Kast Barnes, Dun bar.
Longniddry, S.O.

\

Pitnamoon, Laurencekirk.
Mains of Cowie, Stonelniven.
Portlethen, near Aberdeen.

Gospetry, Milnathort, S.O,
Newmains, Kirkliston, S.O.

141

Name of Correspondent.

Address.

MIDLOTHIAN.
Mr. J. J. Davidson...
Mr.J. McHutchen-Dobbie.
Mr. P. Oemmell ...

PEBBLESSHIRE.
Mr. a. W. Constable
Mr. G. Deans Ritchie

PERTHSHIRE.
Mr. A. Campbell ...
Mr. J. Craig
Mr. Andrew Hutcheson
Mr. D. McDiarmid ...

ROXBURGHSHIRE.
Mr. J. Caverhill ...
Mr. C. J. Grieve ...
Mr.J. R. C. Smith...

SELKIRKSHIRE.
Mr. J. Elliot
Mr. S. Linton

ARGYLL.

Mr. Matt. Andrew ...
Mr. A. J. II. Campbell
Mr. J. A. Hunter ...
Mi-. 11. MacDiarmid
Mr. D. T. Martin ,

Saughton Mains, Corstorphine, S.O. .

Campend, Dalkeith.

11, Murrayfield Place, Edinburgh.

Traquair Estate Office, Innerleitheu, S.O.
Chapelgill, Broughton, S.O.

Boreland Farm, Fearnan, S.O.
Invergeldie, Comrie, S.O.
Beechwood, Perth.
Camusericht, Rannoch Stat., S.O.

Jedneuk, Jedburgh.
Branxholm Park, Hawiok.
Mowhaugh, Yetholm, Kelso

Meigle by Galashiels.
Oak wood, Selkirk.

Division VIX.

Drimvore, Lochgilphead.
Dunstaft'nage, Connel, S.O.
Machribeg, Campbeltown.
Island House, Tiree, Oban.
Dunlossit, Portaskaig. S.O,

142

Xame of Correspondent.

Address.

AYRSHIRE.
Mr. J. M. Hannah ...
Mr. A. Sloan

CAITHNESS.
Mr. G. Davidson
Mr. J. Miller

DUMFRIESSHIRE.
Rev. J. Gillespie, LL.D.
Mr. J. Moffatt
Mr. J. Waugh

INVERNESS-SHIRE.
Mr. J. T. Cameron
Mr. J. Cran...
Mr. G. Malcolm
Mr. T. Wilson

KIRKCUDBRIGHTSHIRE.
Mr. J. Biggar
Mr. J. McDowall ...

LANARKSHIRE.
Mr. J. Gilchrist
Mr. J. D. Scott
Mr. J. Speir

ORKNEY.

Mr. W. MacLennan
Mr. W. G. T. Watt

Girvan Mains, Girvan.

Greenhill, Crosshouse, Kilmarnock.

Old Hall, Watten, S.O.
Scrabster, Thurso

Mouswald Manse, Buthwell, S.O.
Gateside, Sanquhar, S.O.
Greenwood Hall, Moffat.

Gesto, Struan, Isle of Skye.
Kirkton, Bunchrew, Inverness.
Craigard, Invergarry, S.O.
Luskintyre House, Harris.

Chapelton, Dalbeattie.
Girdstingwood, Kirkcudbright.

Orbiston Mains, Bellshill, Glasgow.
Nether House, Lesmahagow S.O.
Newton Farm, Newton, Glasgow.

Zetland Estates Office, Kirkwall.
Skaill House by Stromness, S.O,

143

Name of Correspondent.

Address.

RENFREWSHIRE.
Mr. H. M. B. Peile...
Mr. J. Pollock, Junr.

Ross AND CROMARTY.
Mr. J. D. Fletcher ...
Mr. 0. H. Mackenzie
Mr. N.Reid

SHETLAND.
Mr. Jas. Mainland ...
Mr. G. Anderson ...

STIRLINGSHIRE.
Mr. Jno. Edmond ...
Mr. J. Drysdale ...
Mr. W. T. Malcolm

WIGTOWNSHIRE.
Mr. H. McMaster ...
Mr. W. H. Ralston..,

Mansion House, Greenock.
Springside, Howwood, S.O.

Rosehaugh House, Avoch, R.S.O.
Inverewe, Poolewe, R.S.O.
Newkelso, Strathcarron, R.S.O.

Dalsetter, Lerwick.
Hillswick, S.O.

Gallamuir, Bannockburn, S.O.

Arngibbon, Port of Monteith, Port of Mon-

teith Station, R.S.O.
Dunmore Home Farm, Larbert.

Blairbury, Port William, R.S.O.
Dunragit Estate Office, Dunragit, R.S.O.

OF THE

P

UNIVERSITY 1

OF /

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE.
BY DARLING & SON, LTD., 34-40, BACON STREET, E.

1906.

THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE
STAMPED BELOW

AN INITIAL FINE OF 25 CENTS

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THIS BOOK ON THE DATE DUE. THE PENALTY
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OCT 24 1932
OCT 11 1933

LD 21-50wi-8,-3'J

YC 34745

177482