74 EUROPEAN AGRICULTURE. 



in their spare time, either before going to work or after having 

 returned from their day s work. The manner in which this 

 land shall be appropriated is generally determined or prescribed 

 by the landlord ; though, in some cases, it remains optional with 

 the laborer. These small lots of land, though generally leased at 

 a moderate rent, in some cases, as at the Duke of Devonshire s 

 village of Edensor, at a rent merely nominal, bring at the rate 

 of from one pound to eight pounds an acre, though, in the latter 

 case, the land generally lies contiguous to some large manufac 

 turing town, where the laborer finds an opportunity of disposing 

 of many small products at a high price. In general, the land so 

 taken, exclusive of some few garden vegetables for daily use, is 

 applied to the growing of potatoes and wheat, and alternated 

 with these two crops. 



The effect of these allotments upon the character of the occu 

 pant is quite remarkable. He becomes himself, for the time 

 being, an owner of the soil ; he has a feeling of independence 

 which nothing else can give, and which at once exalts his char 

 acter. He is able to avail himself to advantage of the labor of 

 his wife and children, who in some cases perform most of the 

 work on the ground in hours which would otherwise be wasted 

 or misappropriated. His ground yields him a large supply of 

 vegetables for his family, and enables him to keep and fatten a 

 pig or two, and likewise some poultry, which very much conduce 

 to his comfort, and that of his family. The cultivation of his 

 ground likewise occupies hours which might otherwise be spent 

 in the drinking-house, where nothing good is to be learned, and 

 where the foundation of the ruin of many a laborer is laid ; and 

 the ruin of his family follows generally, as matter of course. 

 Besides these advantages from the allotment system, his youngest 

 children are here early trained to habits of industry and care 

 fulness. 



The mere keeping of a pig in such cases is a matter of serious 

 profit, and not of that only, but of pleasure ; and I have been so 

 much struck with the remarks of one of the commissioners on 

 this subject, that I transcribe them for the gratification of my 

 readers : 



&quot; Of such a pig, the first product of allotment, garden or potato 

 headland, it is the fashion among political economists to speak 

 disrespectfully. Now, whatever might be the superior profit, to 



