MARKET-GARDENING 89 



sold in thirty-one lots varying from 1 to 50 acres. 

 Of these, 6 acres divided up into small building-sites 

 averaged 450 an acre. 



The lots of from 2 to 4 acres averaged 130 

 an acre. These smaller lots were nearly all taken 

 up by local working men, and thus a colony of 

 small freeholders was established. Since that time 

 another large farm has been cut up and plots of 50 

 to 100 acres let out to smaller men, who work them 

 themselves with their families. These men are 

 nearly all milk-sellers. 



The fertility of the valley land can be judged by 

 the fact that on one holding of 4^ acres the owner 

 kept an average of three cows and a pony, with the 

 aid of a little cake. 



MARKET-GARDENING. 



One of the market-gardeners, an intelligent, in- 

 dustrious man who owned his place, did not, how- 

 ever, give a very rose-coloured view. Some years 

 ago, he said, it was a paying business ; there was 

 always a sale for anything you grew. Now you 

 could only do well if you grew the right things of 

 the best quality and sold them at retail prices. 

 There was great competition in the place now. It 

 was important that the holding should be of such 

 a size that it could be worked by members of the 

 family ; if you had to pay wages or pay others to 

 sell your stuff, it did not answer. Many people 

 lost two days a week taking their produce to Wey- 

 mouth. 



