Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 77, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 March 1910 — SMALL FARMS IN ENGLAND [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

SMALL FARMS IN ENGLAND

In an endeavor to check the apparent decline of farming in England, economists and legislators are crying “back to the land,” and there is a sincere attempt to put into practical operation the smail-holdings act of Parliament, which took effect Jan. 1, 1908. It is perhaps too early to determine whether or not the act is to prove successful. The reports concerning it are diverse, the large land holders naturally taking the position that it is burdensome, impractical and visionary, while the comparatively few farmers who have acquired small holdings under the act have not had sufficient time to demonstrate the effectiveness of the plan as a solution of the problem to encourage agricultural production and turn the unemployed in the cities to pastoral pursuits. According to Frank W. Mahin, United States consul at Nottingham, various obstacles have been encountered, chiefly the difficulty of finding practicable land and in the Selection of suitable tenants. That there is, however a demand for the land and that many people are willing to make the experiment of farming on their own account, Is shown in Nottingham, where a total of 4 059 acres have been asked Tor by 243 applicants. Of these applications 124 were found to be acceptable, their requirements totaling 1 285 acres. Of this amount but 511 acres have been acquired. To be sure, many offers of land were received, but much of it was unsuitable for agricultural purposes or the prices asked were deemed too high. This is to be remedied in the near future, however, as one owner of an immense estate has declared his intention of cutting 4,000 acres into small holdings win Pr 0f th l plan lnßlßt that the small hold ‘ n S 8 idea is bound to win, and that it promises to solve the agriculural problem, while at the same time doing much to relieve distress and wretchedness. In any event the experlment is interesting and will be closely watched by economists throughout lug world.