This question of the value of land is not, of
course, identical with the success of farming, though the two are inseparably bound together. What is most curious in England is the apparent contempt for houses. I know of two fen farms that were sold, and sold well, some years ago. There was little to choose between them in respect of soil or position ; but one had a good farm house and the other was quite innocent
of buildings. They sold for identical sums : £50 an acre in each case. And there are greater curiosities. I know of cases where a complete farm with house and outbuildings have been valued at about the price which the house alone fetched when sold separately with a tiny portion of land. The result is that over large areas—notably in Berkshire and in all the counties within easy reach of Londonthe farms are being robbed of their homesteads and are now left as houseless as the New Zealand farm. The outbuildings have been scrapped and the revival of the land as a farm is per- manently prevented by the price of re-equipment. The movement has been so extensive and rapid that the con- version of farm houses into mere dwelling-houses has become a recognized profession. It would probably better pay a seeker for a country house to buy a farm with the-house thrown in than a farm house with the land thrown out.
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