Farming in Germany.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 14042, 28 October 1909, Page 4 (Supplement)

Farming in Germany.

A LAND OF SMALL FARMS. ~ Compared with England, says the Melbourne "Age," the decline in the value of agricultural lands in Germany Jias been, comparatively trifling, and the agricultural industry affords a living to a rural population four or five tames greater than that of Great Britain. a TTio rule in Germany is an effort to secure small .holdings. The number of (beldings in 1895 not exceeding 2| acres xa extent was 2,529,132. Some 707,235 proprietors cultivated holdings averaging 3. acres j 8,214,960 persons Were. possessed of an average of 8 acres, 605,814 of an average of 17£. Air area of 13.720,437 acres was held in- avenge of lots of 35 acres. Holdings ranging in size from 125 to 150 acres were held by 42,124 The total number of agricultural properties was 5,558„317, held in average lots of 15 acres. No less than 3,236,357 individual holdings were of 3 acres or under. The bulk of the land, however, is held by persons_ -whose acerage holdings exceeds 25 acres. Broadly speaking, the agricidtural wealth of Germany is produced not by small peasants, but by well to do far-mer-peasants who farm their own laiifl, Turning-to thß figures in another wsy, it appears that of properties below 6" acres, 62.2 per cent, are freehold; of those above 5 and below 50 acres, 88.2 are in a like condition. YThere the area ranges from 50 to 250 acres. 92 per cent, are held in fee simple. Freehold properties are thus more numerous among the medium sised producers. It is found lhat the average yield per acre is greater among the small proprietors than the large. In the* East of Germaay. where the large estates are situaie, intense culture is tittle followed. A more curious position is that pmong fre small proprietors the average quality, of stock raised is greater than cri the large holdings. Thus if we select an arrange of 250 acres on land cultivated m sections of 6 acres and under, rnd in sections of 60 acres and over & *£Q. 'to tbund that the fbrronr prodaces 16 horses, 147 cattle and 242 pigs; the latter only 11 horses, 37 cattle and 20 pigs. From the State point of Tiew the advantages are wholly on the side of small properties. The general conclusion is undoubted, as far as Germany is concerned, that large holdings are unfavourable to the proper development of agriculture and the efficient raising of cattle. Nor are j the large estates turned to the best account when regard is paid_ to tho use of machinery. It is a curious fact that steam driven agricultural machines are more in use on medium properties than on large. On the whole, therefore, German experience is in favour of small holdings. In that way prominence_ is given to intense culture; the land is better worked, and the total output increased, lie methods followed for conserving the interests of the small producer have so far borne excellent results: The application of science to agriculture has turned many of the inferior lands to account. The State recognises that it owes a duty to its people to place within their grasp the means of securing for themselves the essentials of a well ordered life. Hence not only is the small holder encouraged, but some attention is given to improvement in the matter of transport. With the exception of certain parts of .Germany no obstacle is placed noon the transmission of property. For that reason the holdings are not in a continuous state of subdivision. The power of free bequest is limited to a certain extent, but the limitation is by no -means confined to land. Broadly speaking, the sweep of the German law is in the .direction of -freedom, coupled » however, with a determination to prevent large areas becoming aggregated in the hands of few proprietors.