26 A NEW AGRICULTURAL POLICY 



vested interests, how a landlord can gaily drive 

 a four-in-hand through an Act of Parliament, 

 and can smilingly, at the end of his adventure, 

 hold out his hand for pence ! 



" Case No. 4 (Essex). — This farm is typical 

 of some 12,000 acres of heavy grass land in the 

 county. About twenty years ago the farm was 

 acquired as a building estate, and sold out in 

 small plots. A few tin shanties were erected, 

 and one or two plots were pegged out ; other- 

 wise nothing was done. The land became 

 overgrown with scrub, and barely sufficed to 

 maintain a few cattle and sheep in store con- 

 dition. Hedges grew wild, ditches filled up, 

 and drains became blocked. The farm was 

 taken over by the Committee in the summer 

 of 19 1 7, and cultivation began in the early 

 autumn under the direction of an experienced 

 local farmer. An inspection was made on the 

 7th May 1918." I will not detail the cultural 

 methods employed, as I am afraid these might 

 weary the general reader, but I will merely 

 state that of the total area of 166 acres, 82 acres 

 were under crop, 35 acres were bare fallow in 

 preparation for wheat the following autumn, 

 whilst 49 acres were left in grass. The Report 

 goes on to say that the " transformation effected 

 on this land reflects the greatest credit on the 

 management." 



"Case No. 5 (Hampshire).' — This is a com- 

 pact farm of 600 acres in extent, mostly arable, 



