TYPE OF HOLDER 203 



a village, with good roads leading to several 

 markets, of which two are exceptionally suitable 

 for the usual produce of small holdings ; but they 

 are all at some distance. The original price was 

 low, and facilities were given for extending payment 

 over a number of years. 



The holders, although most of them had not been 

 originally engaged in agriculture, were all local 

 people, and with few exceptions, had had some con- 

 nection with the land. 



The holdings are mostly agricultural, and owned 

 by small dealers and carriers, who hawk their own 

 produce to private customers along with stuff bought 

 up in market. There is not a single case of a man 

 who is entirely dependent on his holding for a living, 

 the nearest approximation to it being a market- 

 gardener, who runs a shop in connection with his 

 holding. 



Of those who are not dealers, one is a coal 

 merchant and haulier, one a milk-seller with other 

 sources of income, one a carrier and jobmaster, one 

 a haulier, and one a market-gardener. In the 

 three cases which have occurred of death, the holding 

 has been bought up by a neighbour. 



While the people work harder and for longer 

 hours than the ordinary agricultural labourer, and 

 are for the most part worse housed, they seem to 

 think they are better off, and express great satisfac- 

 tion with their independence. 



