Page:Indian Journal of Economics Volume 2.djvu/204

divide up a gun?hs of agricultural land into ? numbe? of smaller plo?s, ?hough economically i? is obviously foolish to do so; and it is still more foolish for the law to compel ? man to do so. .In the case of town houses also I believe that it is common in Hindu families for one brother to take the family houso entire, without any attempt st division. In conclusion, I would opinion that the creation of is a , fundamental necessity venture more for the to express economic holdings agriculture in the Bombay Presidency, and by means of the proposed bill a star? can be made in the economic reconquest of the land. APPENDIX I EXAMPLES OF THE EXTENT OF SUB-DIVISION AND FRAOMENTA- TION OF HOLDINGS IN THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY The extent of sub-division and fragmentation 'of holdings in the Bombay Presidency differs considerably in the different tracts. It fs greatest iu the rice lauds of the Konkan and Gh?t strip of the Deccan, where the conditions of rice cultivation and tl?e value of the rice crop tend towards the existence of small holdings, and where tile pressure of the population on the area of rice land, and in particular on the fertile coast strip, accentuates the evils of excessive sub-division and fragmentation. A.---KONKAN AND GHAT STRIP OF THE DECCAN . I propose to state typical cases showing from different points of view tile extent to which sub-division and fragmenta- tion have proceeded in the districts of Kanars, Batnsgiri, Kolaba and Thana. Case No. I. Survey Nos. I to 40 of Up?oinal?atan, talnk? Kumta, district Kanar? This area of 52 acres was selected simply because it was ? nice compact block of land with excellent natural facilities, /vhich might have sufficed for $ or 4 rich holdings, or 6 or 8 fair holdings. In point of fact it is divided up into 159 separate plots held by about 50 landholders. I submit a map of the land (See p. 194) and s tabular statement showing areas,