The Washington herald., 1909-07-18

While so many lines Of activity are in
operation in this country 10 induce city
people. factory people. and even those OF
the slums TO hark back to nature and Oc-
cupy the land and till it for livelihood.
the somewhat startling announcement
comes from Great Britain that area Of
land under actual uTage is decreasing in
that country. Consul John F. Griffith,
OF Liverpool. writing TO the Washington
Bureau Of Manufactures upon the subject
says:
The returns Of the board Of agriculture
show that from year 20 year the area
under cultivation is gradually growing
smaller. There are nearly 100000 acres
Of land less under cultivation now than
ten years ago.
Extending the retrospect, in 1851. I-07s.-
Coo quarters OF wheat Quarter Of wheat
equals lso pounds were grown in England
en- $4,000 acres. Nearly half a century
later. in 1902 although the population OF
the country had doubled IN the interval,
there were only 6.735,Oo0 quarters OF wheat
srown on 11S6.o00 acres.
Thirty-five years ago 1S.500000 acres
100000 acres at the present time The
greatest falling OF has been IN England
end Wales, there being practically no
change IN Scotland
How Area Is Divided.
There are nearly 5s.25GC0O acres Of land
on the surface Of Great Britain. divided.
roughly. as follows: Twenty-Five per cent
under arabic cultivation. 81 pa- cent IN
grass land, 5 per cent in woodland. the
remaining 100000 acre representing the
mountainous country. the railways and
highways, ana towns and cities. &c.
In thirty years there has been a shrink
age Of 2325 in the number Of small hold
ings-that is. farms Of fifty acres and
less. In the number OF larger-sized farms
there has been little change. which is ex-
planned by the fact that in this class OF
holdings there are more owners and few
or tenants than in the case of the smaller
areas. and a higher degree Of stability
has been secured.
The orchard acreage has slightly in
creased and a larger acreage has gradu-
ally been given 10 the cultivation OF
Strawberries, raspberries currants and
other small fruits
A small-holding law has been enacted
AtI lt4e DAL ppec OF IEuleQNlLg Lle eNlSLlnE
conditions Il is believed that the only
solution Of the land question is in provid-
ine few acres Of land which a man may
cultivate, either as owner or tenant.
Seek TO Create Small Farms.
It is desired 70 have as many small
IS can be secured. and It IS
thought If this is done the knowledge that
any Increase in value viii directly benefit
the occupier viii he an incentive TO the
proper and scientific cultivation of the
land. The garden cities which have been
established IN various parts OF England
are another manifestation of the growing
movement IN favor Of small holdings. /
Lessons have beer drawn from France,
Germany. and Belgium. where a large
yield is secured from very small acre
age. and where a spirit OF contentment
prevails. which is at present lacking IN
rural England.
Many urge that with a larger return for I
his labor and with the prospect OF ulti- /
mate ownership Of the land the English
farmer would work with renewed energy
and finer purpose. Upon the very large
OF small farms depends in /
a great measure the agricultural rejuve-
nation OF England