, 1879-08-03
EUROPEAlS :;.ss!:MS.


On the Continent the Land Is cultivated il
much smaller parcels than is customary in this
country. According to N. Layersne, 50,cc0 pro-
prietors in France possess each au average OF $50
acres, 200, ,0o0 have an average OF IS acres, and
4,00o,o00 an average Of TX acres Mr. Kay,
however, is Of opinion that the average acreage
Of the small pTopricrors in France Is cousideru-
Dly ADORE the figures quoted BY IL Larersoe.
In Belgium, where the land is even more
mtnuteiy subdirided than in France. the aycrnee
area OF separate plots is given BY Sir Henry Bar
rob at 1856 acres.
We have complete store OF information on
the tenure OF lanu in North Germany, through
the able report prepared BY Mr. Ha7riss-9as-
trell; in 1S6i-10, in compliance with Instructions
issued by Lord Clarendon. Tie greater part OF
the land in what was then the Kingdom Of
frussia is cultivated by the owners themselves.
While the number OF tenants wholly engaged in
agriculture was only g, 600, there were no lcss
than 1,00oDO0 proprieross similarly occupied.
OF these, uorc than half belonged 10 the class
Of yeomen or team owning peasants. The area
Of land owned and cultivated uy the so-ca llel
.team-owning" peasant varies from thirty.
three acres in Slesta to si1ty-sx acres IN SaxonY
a1.d efshty-one in the province OF. Prussia.
Rernepsberger, in his work, ''Dle -A@rafrage,a
quoted BY Alr. Hay, asserts that the prosperity
of France since 179O, notWiths landing the tre-
meudous wars and revolutions through which
that country has passed, is entirely due to the
laws which have led to more minute sub
division OF the land. The population OF Frau:c
has increased in the interval from 15,00o,0Jo to
g. O0D, (kO. 4 nrEer population derives far more
nourishlnent from the land Ut France in tilt
present day than was obtained under the former
regime. The people pay with less taxes !, ,3O3,
0O.k0OO francs, while the Old Monarchy fell be-
cause it attempted to raise 50o.o9o.Co0 t1anre
In Prussia the productive area Tields an III
ferior return relatively to the productive area
OF this country. Really high farming Is rare.
1t does not appear to BIZ as profitable as medium
farming, u,ld the peasant proprietor will not
adopt it. He cAnuot afford the luxury OF ulnxl-
mum crops st 3 less return to hiWscI. 1t
North Germany garden cultivation Il renowned
for It's care and intelligence.
We have seen IRON tile statement Of Sir II.
Barron how minute is the cultivation in Bel
GUM, and the quantities Of fruit, meat. eggs
und potatoes shipped 10 England a1e realiv pro
daious. We draw similar produce in lurgt
quantities from France.
In the United Kingdom the average acrcagt
OF holdings is So acres Ut tho .cnant farmers.
Sc, 900 in number, u pce cent occuuy farsns I'm.
der 50 acres each; Il per cent bctwe:n III AMI
103 acres; Is per cent farms of more than 1oJ
acres eaei. These figures are quoted from Ar.
Caird. Should We he more independent ot Tie
supplies we now draw from the Continent II Q
gre.ler acreage o1 our own Land were cultivated
with the minute care Of the 8Ulaiicr tenantsy
anu peasant prupFjerors OF the Continent:
Moderate holdings seem peculiarly adapted
for occupicrs who are prepared 10 devote atte1l-
ton to the decondary produce of the farN1. The
rearing OF poultry has hitherto been too much
neglected in this country. When VIC look to the
iart that eggs are selling IN Manchester for two
pence each, while foreign eggs nre being iul-
ported ut the rate Of o,000,0J0 n day, the retail
price Of which may be computed at f16,00 it IS
;ohf ft,s4tr far,