SMALL HOLDINGS.

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 146, 7 June 1892, Page 2

SMALL HOLDINGS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR. Snt,— lt was not my intention to con- j tinue the above subject at present, choos- i ing the subject of small farms as being of more importance and needful in the present condition of this colony, but as the smallness of holdings, as a cause of poyerty in Ireland, has been disputed through the columns of the STARiu look, ing over recent statistics again I find that there were 51,000 so-called small farms of only one acre iv extant and 66,000 not exceedingfive acres in that couutry. Now, to terra a portion of land of an acre iv extent, a farm is ridiculous, the area being rather small for a holding. The cause of the land area becoming so small in Ireland, I believe is a clinging to his holding by the native Irishman. Those holdings in former times may haye been moderate sized farms, but have been sub-divided among members of families, and so have gone on getting smaller from generation to generation. A comparatiye absence, uutil recently, of extensive public works such as have been undertaken in England and Scotland, as a counter attraction, may be another cause. The grievances of Ireland in the past while your correspondent alludes to, is a voluminous subject, but, to be as brief as possible, there will always be a grievance and a cause bf poverty in Ireland until quite a different system of cultivating the soil is adopted. All history proves that wben only one staple article of food supply is depended upon by commnuities, or unions, periodical famines are the result. Perhaps the main cause which keeps the increase of the enormous population of China withm a certaiu limit is the dependence upon rice as the daily food of the Chinese. India also, before British r uls wjs established, was subject to periods of famine carrying off millions of her inhabitants. Although India is still subject to fainino it is much milder and more limited m extent than formerly. Freetrade and the use of capital have no doubt, brought about this improved condition of affairs in India where wheat is now growing, and other food supplies, to depend upon. British rule has therefore proved to a blesdug to India where the population, according to recent statistics, is now increasing. It would take a great deal to check the vitality of Irishmen, as they possess a very large share of vital energy, but the potato of all productions of the soil that have come under my observations, is the most subject to deteriaration in quality and to desease. It seems quickly to exhaust the soil of that ingredient which is necessary to keep it in a sound condition and which as yet is best provided for by nature. This colony cannot be surpassed as to producing the potato, but virgin soil is well known to be the most suitable, and I dont believe Ihat New Zealand has any soil which will produce the third crop in succession in a thoroughly wholesome condition, and whether manure is applied or not. the tuber will either become sodden and indigestible, or impreguated with insect life, and therefore become subject to desease. The only way to put an end to the poverty among the peasantry in Ireland is to increase the area of their holdings, aad production of gram or some change of crop. In some cases the soil would require a complete change for many years. I would have thought that increased knowledge iv cultivating the soil would have brought a change in that pursuit in Ireland, but only a season or two back a famine took place and a quantity of seed for the next crop was distributed free of cost by the State. While this system of culture prevails it is quite clear that seasons come round when the small holder in Ireland will not be in a position to pay even a moderate rent for his holding. I am, etc., A Colonist.