AN ORIGINAL ALLOTTEE 135 



tinued at their trades, employing Irish labourers to 

 dig their holdings. At first they grew ordinary 

 farm crops, the yearly return from which Mr. Sturge 

 puts at 28. Deducting 8 for ground-rent and 

 taxes, this left them in the position of living rent 

 free, with vegetables and bacon for home consump- 

 tion and about 7s. lOd. a week. After a few years 

 strawberry-growing was started by one of the 

 allottees, who had been gardener to the Earl of 

 Plymouth. His success induced others to copy 

 him, and from that time prosperity appears to have 

 reigned at Dodford. It was possible then to realize 

 30 on an acre of strawberries. What with other 

 crops, such as green peas and garlic, and by keeping 

 fowls, the average income derived from the estate 

 rose to about 17s. 6d. a week, exclusive of house 

 rent and produce consumed at home. 



The general look of Dodford at the present time 

 is prosperous. The ground is hilly and the 4-acre 

 holdings run up and down the slopes of two nearly 

 parallel undulations. The whole place is cut into 

 squares by the intersection of the 10-feet roads 

 which were constructed to give access to the 

 various plots. These roads are very badly in want 

 of metal, probably owing to the fact that the 

 owners of the adjoining holdings have to keep 

 them in repair. High, thick privet and thorn 

 hedges on each side keep each place fairly private. 

 The fruit-trees, mostly apples planted in the early 

 days, are now well grown up, and give the slopes 

 a wooded appearance. There are many grass 



