PRICE OF LAND 31 



good land in the district has been sold for from 

 40 to 75. 



About 1868-74, when farming was prosperous 

 and the price of land was very high, as much as 

 150 an acre had been given. Being an ugly 

 county, with no sport, non-resident landlords had 

 sold out, and the competition for farms amongst 

 the tenants had been very high, for they either had 

 to remain farmers or become labourers, and the 

 only way to acquire land was by buying it. In 

 nearly every case two - thirds of the purchase- 

 money was borrowed on mortgage. Then followed 

 the series of bad seasons, with the fall in the price 

 of corn and wool. A Boston solicitor told me that 

 in every single case with which his firm dealt the 

 man went bankrupt. When the mortgagees sold 

 the present owners acquired the land at proper 

 prices, and are doing well. They turn their atten- 

 tion more to special crops, such as potatoes and 

 celery, and work hard themselves. By adding to 

 their holdings by degrees they can work their way 

 up, in contrast to those who made big purchases 

 on borrowed money and could not tide over bad 

 times. The freeholders are all mortgaged, but not 

 up to the hilt, and are paying as much in interest 

 as their neighbours do in rent. Many of the 

 tenants on the toft land are paying 5 to 6 an 

 acre rent. From 2 to 3 seems to be the average 

 for the smaller holdings on the fen land. 



