LOCAL CONDITIONS 181 



AGRICULTURE OF THE DISTRICT. 



The district was essentially one of corn-growing 

 and sheep-breeding, but dairying is now getting 

 a much stronger hold, and many of the large 

 farms send milk to London, Portsmouth, and 

 Southampton. 



The fact that several successful farmers in the 

 immediate neighbourhood are men who have 

 worked their own way up in some cases having 

 started life in other trades points to possibilities 

 in the way of agriculture. 



PRICE OF LAND, RENT. 



The average rental for the district is about 10s. 

 an acre, the hill farms running as low as 5s. ; where 

 there are water meadows and pasture it is higher. 



The price of agricultural land averages about 

 10 an acre. 



OTHER TRADES. 



A large number of the inhabitants find regular 

 winter occupation in the working up of hazel and 

 ash underwood into sheep-cribs and hurdles, which 

 is a regular industry of the neighbourhood. The 

 wood is put up to auction in lots. The cutting 

 of it and making the smaller stuff into faggots 

 employs a number of men beside those actually 

 engaged in the manufacture of the cribs and hurdles, 

 which are sent to all parts of the country. Besides 

 this there are one or two families who are truffle - 

 hunters. 



