NOBLESSE OBLIGE 57 



the curate? Though no unsightly pigsties 

 disfigured the cottage gardens of lodge-keepers 

 and carters on this tidy feudal estate, did not 

 my lord keep a model piggery, in which pigs 

 with high pedigrees had the satisfaction of 

 looking out of glazed windows over an ex- 

 tensive estate unspoiled by the sight of plebeian 

 pigsties ? Although no unsightly fowl-house 

 disfigured the cottage gardens of lodge-keepers 

 and gardeners, did not my lord show how hens 

 should be kept on a model poultry farm ? — and, 

 on the estates of big game preservers, poultry 

 runs in war-time had to be extended. 



It is true that in the days of Mr. Whittaker 

 Wright the park contained 5 farms, and 

 19 plough-teams used to be employed in 

 producing corn at Winkford, Wareham, 

 Grayswood, Blowhead Green, and Birtly 

 Farms. But farm buildings are apt to become 

 an eyesore on a tidied-up feudal estate. When 

 they do, they should be levelled to the ground ! 



It is true that some of this land once grew 

 6 quarters of wheat to the acre ; but the 

 County Agricultural Committee had reported 

 that it was not worth ploughing. Therefore, 

 was his lordship to blame ? 



However, after a long struggle, the men did 

 get a few rods for allotments, though they 

 were on a patch of land subject to periodical 

 floodings and outside the park fence. Never- 

 theless, they valiantly dug up their little patches 



