The liousimj of the Agricvltvral Lahonrer. 21 



attempts have been made to ascertain in detail tlie practical 

 requirements of the rural labourer, or to differentiate them 

 from those of the urban worker. It is true that this aspect of 

 the subject has been dealt with to some extent in the chapter 

 on the rural labourers' cottagp in the valuable Report of the 

 Departmental Committee on Buildings for Small Holdings, 

 which, by laying down adequate minimum standards of 

 accommodation, and summarising the main points to be 

 observed to ensure convenient planning of rooms, has per- 

 formed a most useful work. But here the evident desire to 

 reform the cottager's mode of living on certain lines seems to 

 have precluded a sympathetic treatment of the subject from 

 the labourer's point of view, and it is very much open to 

 doubt if the kitchen-living-room and scullery type of plan 

 which it advocates is the most adequate response that can be 

 made to his requirements. 



The Country Life Competition for Cottage Designs 

 again, whilst doing an excellent work by demonstrating in a 

 practical way that economic cottage building need not neces- 

 sarily be unsightly, and that the old ])uilding traditions existing 

 in various country districts are still applicable to modern 

 needs, unfortunately did not allow of any advance upon the 

 accepted type in planning. Except in about three cases in 

 which a parlour was required, the conditions of the competi- 

 tion for the eighteen pairs of cottages were based entirely upon 

 the Report of the Departmental Committee, and little latitude 

 in planning was allowed to competitors, whose efforts were 

 confined to the perfecting of the few possible combinations of 

 a living-room and scullery and three bedrooms of more or less 

 rigidly specified sizes. 



At the present time, when it appears likely that the Legis- 

 lature, as part of a scheme to improve rural conditions, may 

 shortly introduce measures that will result in the erection of 

 many thousands of cottages throughout the country, it is 

 especially important that no doubt should exist as to the precise 

 form of housing accommodation generally required by the 

 rural worker ; and in the following remarks it is proposed to 

 consider the type of country cottage now customarily recognised 

 as the best for its purpose ; to inquire how far it meets the 

 actual requirements of the rural labourer ; and to endeavour to 

 ascertain in what directions modifications are desirable. 



The accepted type of plan consists of a good-sized kitchen- 

 living room, a small scullery, and a larder, on the ground floor, 

 with coal-house and E.C. or W.C. either in an outbuilding or, 

 less frequently, under the main roof. On the first floor three 

 bedrooms are provided. The front door generally opens into a 

 small lobby leading to the living-room and staircase, or 



