103

planting, root thinning, and other similar work at other times
of the year, a very large proportion of these may not describe
themselves as agricultural workers in the Census Returns. There
is also some doubt as to the extent to which female domestic
servants are included in the Agricultural Returns. Many of
these are partially engaged on farm work such as dairying. As
the Ministry’s return is taken in June before the fruit-picking
and hop-picking season, those persons whose only agricultural
work is in connection with these operations are excluded.
On the whole, therefore, it may be accepted that the number
of persons regularly or generally employed in agriculture or horticulture
 was about 870,000 in 1921.
In addition to the figures given above for 1921, the numbers
of workers returned to the Ministry by occupiers of holdings in
1923, 1924 and 1925 are also available and compare as shown
below.

NUMBERS 0F WORKERS RETURNED BY OCCUPIERS OF LAND AS
EMPLOYED ON JUNE 4TH OF THE UNDERMENTIONED YEARS.

Regular Workers.

Casual Workers.

Y ear.

Men and
hovs.

Women and
oirls.

Men and
bovs.

Women and
oirls.

Thous. Thous. Thous. Thous.
1921 © | 612 73 131 53
1923 566 59 104 43
| 924 582 | 62 115 | 47
1925 579 60 115 49

Total.

Thous.
869
72
806
803

The striking decrease between 1921 and 1923 may possibly
reflect the financial difficulties under which farmers operated
owing to the sharp fall in prices in that period, while the slight
increase in employment in the following year may be due to the
more stable conditions prevailing in 1924. Generally, however,
the figures indicate an appreciable decline in the numbers
employed since 1921.
With regard to the number of “employers” in agriculture
it has sometimes been suggested that the discrepancy between
the apparent number of *“ farmers ”” and the number of agricultural
holdings is too great and is evidence of inaccuracy on one side
or the other. Owing, however, to the fact already explained that
a good deal of land is occupied as a secondary occupation, no
exact agreement ought to be expected between the number of
persons included under the heading ¢ farmer” and of the total
number of holdings discussed in the preceding chapter. Of the
total of 410,000 separate returns of agricultural land about
50,000 were classed as miscellaneous pieces of land not ordinary