"BUT FOR THE LAND" 79 



more freedom for the use of larger agricultural 

 implements. 



The creation of these holdings, besides <>ivinff 

 SL livelihood to the tillers of the soil, has enriched 

 the manufacturers of Birmingham and the 

 tradesmen in the district. I heard of a wheel- 

 wright retiring with a small fortune acquired by 

 making carts and lorries for the small holders. 

 That is one great advantage to us nationally in 

 getting two blades of grass to grow where only 

 one grew before ; the extra blade brings greater 

 wealth to the tailor, the bootmaker, and the 

 grocer. 



It struck me that at Catshill, near by, 

 the small owners had rather overburdened 

 their holdings with building operations. We 

 know that the erection of country palaces by 

 the merchant prince had the evil effect of 

 rousing a spirit of misplaced ambition in the old- 

 fashioned squire to rebuild his manor-house, 

 and so become heavily involved in mortgages. 

 Let us hope that the small holder will not be 

 ambitious to overburden himself with spurious 

 riches. 



In the same county, at Castle JNloreton, 

 there is another interesting settlement of Parish 

 Council small holdings where the Parish Council 



