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We direct the reader's careful attention to the following interesting
statistics regarding occupiers of land in Ireland:--The agricultural
statistics of Ireland recently completed for 1873 show that in that year
there were in that country 590,172 separate holdings, being 5,041 less
than in the preceding year. The decrease was in the small holdings. The
number of holdings not exceeding one acre fell to 51,977, a decrease of
908, and the number above one acre and not exceeding 15 acres, shows a
decrease of 3,777. The holdings above one acre can be compared with the
numbers in 1841. Since that date the total number has decreased 22 per
cent. The number of farms above one and not exceeding five acres has
fallen to 72,088 (in 1873), a decrease of 76.8 per cent.; the number of
farms above five and not exceeding 15 acres has diminished to 168,044, a
decrease of 33.5 per cent.; the number above 15 and not exceeding 30
acres has risen to 138,163, an increase of 74.1 per cent.; and the
number above 30 acres has increased to 159,900, an increase of 228.8 per
cent. Of the total number of holdings in 1873, 8.8 per cent. did not
exceed 1 acre; 12.2 per cent. were above 1 and not exceeding 5 acres;
28.5 per cent., 5 to 15 acres; 23.4 per cent., 15 to 30 acres; 12.4 per
cent., 30 to 50 acres; 9.4 per cent., 50 to 100 acres; 3.7 per cent.,
100 to 200 acres; 1.4 per cent., 200 to 500 acres; 0.2 per cent., above
500 acres. More than 60 acres in every 100 of the land comprising farms
above 500 acres are bog or waste. As the farms diminish in size, the
proportion under bog and waste decreases until it amounts to only 7.1
per cent. on the smallest holdings. The average extent of the holdings
not exceeding 1 acre is 1 rood and 32 perches, and of farms above 500
acres 1,371 acres and 19 perches. As in many instances landholders
occupy more than one farm, it has been considered desirable to ascertain
the number of such persons, and it has been found that in 1873 the
590,172 holdings were in the hands of 539,545 occupiers, or 2,293 fewer
than in the preceding year. There were in 1873 50,758 occupiers whose
total extent of land did not exceed 1 acre; 65,051 holdings above 1 and
not exceeding 5 acres; 150,778 holdings above 5 but not exceeding 15
acres; 124,471 holdings above 15 but not exceeding 30 acres; 65,991
holdings above 30 and not exceeding 50 acres; 50,565 holdings above 50
but not exceeding 100 acres; 20,764 holdings above 100 but not exceeding
200 acres; 8,799 holdings above 200 but not exceeding 500 acres; and
2,368 holdings above 500 acres. The whole 590,172 holdings extended over
20,327,196 acres, of which 5,270,746 were under crops, 10,413,991 were
grazing land, 13,455 fallow, 323,656 woods and plantations, and
4,305,348 bog and waste. The estimated population of Ireland in the
middle of the year 1873 was 5,337,261.