152 AWAKENING OF ENGLAND. 



seemed to me, though, that the surest way 

 to root it out would be to make conflagration 

 of all the old cottages, build new ones, 

 and institute, as recently suggested by the 

 Satui'day Review, a minimum wage which 

 shall ensure parents the opportunity to feed 

 their children with wholesome and nourishing 

 food. 



Much might be done throughout this dis- 

 trict from Glastonbury to Bridgwater to knit 

 together the various small holdings societies, 

 and by co-operative effort institute a service by 

 motor and steamboat to Cardiff. The land 

 on the southern slopes of the Polden Hills is to 

 a large extent land which is merely marking 

 time. Why not plant it with fruit-trees ? I 

 say this advisedly, for until the yeomen of 

 Somerset plough and begin to plant I do 

 not see that great progress can be made in 

 the small holding movement. 



Though the Somersetshire County Council 

 are progi-essive, the tendency hitherto has 

 been for the County Council to select among 

 the applicants for land the publican, the 

 wheelwright, the blacksmith, the village grocer, 

 butcher, bootmaker, or baker who wants a 

 meadow to turn out his pony, cow, or pig, 



