THE URBAN EXODUS. 253 



one or two are actually succeeding, in spite of 

 many drawbacks, in earning an entire living 

 from the land. The majority, however, have a 

 small income — it may be but a few shillings — 

 and practise some other craft besides that of 

 agriculture, or earn part of their subsistence 

 by working for others on the land. 



The obstacles were many at Cudworth. 

 The farm, like many others offered for small 

 holdings, had been starved by the last tenant, 

 and the Small Holdings Association, which 

 bought it for about £12 an acre, resold it to 

 the small holders at prices varying from £20 

 to £35 an acre. But speculation in sites did 

 not stop here. Since then some of the small 

 holders have been obtaining some " unearned 

 increment " for themselves by selling fields at 

 £50 to £60 an acre. This is one of the evils 

 (from the future small holder's point of view) 

 of peasant proprietorship. 



Then the land is of a heavy clay, and quite 

 unsuited for tlie purpose for which it was 

 originally bought, that is, for market garden- 

 ing. As Lord Onslow remarked at a luncheon 

 in the village hall (at which I was present), 

 " If small holdings can be made to pay here 

 where the soil is hungry and heavy, and far 



