able, seems to be used for practically all purposes, including a good deal of butter-churning in Wales. Most of the steam engines are used for threshing and also to a considerable extent for chaffing, milling and grinding. These latter operations, together with the preparation of cake and roots for feeding to stock, constitute the main function of oil, petrol, gas and electric power on farms.

Other uses of motive power which are mentioned are spraying and washing fruit trees and hops, cider milling and pressing, milking, baling and trussing, cream separating and other dairy operations, sheep shearing, potato sorting and hop drying.

CHAPTER X.-RENT AND THE CAPITAL EMPLOYED IN AGRICULTURE.

1. Rent of agricultural land. No information has hitherto been officially collected as to the average rent of agricultural land in England and Wales, but in connection with the present Census it was decided to make an effort to obtain some information on the subject. It was felt, however, that occupiers of land would probably be unwilling to state definitely on the Agricultural Schedule the rent paid for their farms, and it became necessary to fall back on estimates made by the Crop Reporters, who by their local knowledge and experience were in most cases well qualified to form a reliable opinion on the subject.

The Crop Reporters were asked to estimate the average rent paid in 1925 in their respective districts for eight different sizes of holding, distinguishing in each case between (1) holdings mainly arable (70 per cent. and over arable land), (2) holdings mainly pasture (70 per cent. and over pasture), (3) mixed holdings lying between these two groups, (4) fruit and vegetable farms and (5) poultry farms. In addition, enquiries were made as regards rough grazings. The results for each division in England and Wales are summarised briefly in Table 27 in the Appendix and show that on the average of the whole country the rent of arable, pasture and mixed farms as estimated in 1925 was approximately 31s. per acre. Fruit and vegetable holdings averaged 828. per acre, while poultry holdings averaged 648. per acre, which is a very similar figure to that assigned for the group of holdings of 1 to 5 acres, excluding these special farms. The distinction between holdings mainly arable and mainly pasture brought out a rental difference of some interest, as will be seen from the following table, which shows the average rents per acre paid on holdings of different types and sizes in England and Wales.

The main feature of this table is the higher rent paid for holdings mainly pasture as compared with holdings mainly arable. The mixed holdings naturally occupy an intermediate position.

The difference in the rent per acre paid for holdings of different sizes is to a great extent the result of the variation in the demand for small and large holdings and to the fact that the former are for the most part found in the neighbourhood of towns. In addition, the rent paid is in respect not only of the land farmed but also of the farmhouse and farm buildings, including cottages on the holding, and therefore as holdings decrease in size the cost of buildings necessitates a higher average rent per acre, even allowing for the absence of house or buildings on a large proportion of holdings under 20 acres.

AVERAGE RENTS PER ACRE (EXCLUSIVE OF ROUGH GRAZINGS) OF HOLDINGS OF DIFFERENT TYPES AND SIZES.

Apart from the variations due to size there is naturally considerable difference in the rents paid in different parts of the country due to the fertility of the soil and other causes, though when averaged over the agricultural divisions the variation is not as great as might have been expected. This may be illustrated by comparing the average rentals of holdings of 100 to 150 acres of each type in the agricultural divisions.

AVERAGE RENT PER ACRE (EXCLUSIVE OF ROUGH GRAZINGS) OF HOLDINGS OF 100 To 150 ACRES.

In the eastern and south-eastern divisions the mainly arable farms appear to be worth some 6s. per acre less than the pasture farms, but in the midlands the difference is as great as 11s. and

13s. per acre, and in the south-west it rises to 19s. per acre. The wide differences in these areas are probably due to the good quality of much of the pasture in these districts. On the other hand, it is noticeable that in the northern and the north-western divisions the average rental of pasture holdings is somewhat below that of arable holdings. The highest rents for arable farms are in the north-west, while the lowest rentals are found in Wales.

As regards rough grazings, information regarding the average rental value was obtained separately from crop reporters, but, in addition, reporters were asked to estimate the average number of live stock grazed on rough grazing land with the object of providing some indication of the tenants' capital required in respect of such land (see section 3 of this chapter). These particulars are shown in the following table :

AVERAGE RENT PER ACRE OF ROUGH GRAZING LAND AND AVERAGE NUMBERS OF LIVE STOCK GRAZED PER 100 ACRES.

The estimated average rental value of rough grazing land varies considerably in different districts. In the eastern and north-eastern divisions, and the east and west midlands the estimated average is between 7s. and 8s. per acre, while in the south-west it is as low as 4s., and in North Wales only 3s. per

acre.

The various estimates given above provide a means of calculating the gross rental value of agricultural land (including buildings) in England and Wales. This has been done by apply

ing the estimated rental value of each class and size group of holdings to the respective areas in each division, and the final result, including fruit, vegetable and poultry farms, comes to £41,250,000. To this must be added approximately £1,100,000 for rough grazing land, making a total gross rental value of £42,350,000. Out of this gross rental value has to be defrayed the cost of repairs and other outgoings.

The only figure which can be quoted as in any way comparable with this estimate is the gross income derived from the ownership of lands returned under Schedule A of the Income Tax. This in the year 1922-23 amounted to £36,660,000, but the basis of calculation is not precisely the same.

2. Value of agricultural land. In order to enable some estimate to be made of the total capital value of agricultural holdings in England and Wales, Crop Reporters were also asked to estimate on the basis of the actual prices at which any sales had recently been effected, the average capital value per acre of holdings of different types and sizes in their district. The average value in the different divisions for the various size groups is given in Table 28 in the Appendix, while the following table shows the average price per acre of holdings of various sizes and kinds over the whole of England and Wales :—

On the basis of the information thus obtained it is calculated that the capital value of agricultural holdings in England and Wales is £795,000,000, to which must be added the capital value of the rough grazing land, which may be put at £21,000,000. The estimated total value is, therefore, somewhere in the neighbourhood of £815,000,000. It will be understood that this

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