TYPE OF HOLDING 247 



This type of association does not, perhaps, furnish 

 such striking examples of the possibilities of develop- 

 ment in rural districts as those we have just been 

 considering ; but it shows very clearly what can be 

 done towards getting town people gradually on to 

 the land in a natural, and therefore successful, 

 manner. It affords, moreover, an instructive con- 

 trast to the methods of all idealist schemes. I 

 propose to take three undertakings, each of a slightly 

 differing character in the way of organization, but all 

 having practically identical aims and results. 



SMALL HOLDINGS OF THE DESBOROUGH 

 CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY.* 



Desborough is a small town of 3,900 inhabitants, 

 five miles south-east of Market Harborough in 

 Northamptonshire. Iron ore is found in the district, 

 and there are boot and shoe and corset manufac- 

 tories. 



The Co-operative Society was started in 1863 as 

 a trading society ; at that time the population was 

 only 1,250. The number of members is now 945, 

 and the turnover in 1905 was 15,837. 



In 1885 the Society bought 20 acres of land at 

 60 an acre, and cut it up into allotments for its 

 members. This transaction arose through the fact 

 that many of the members were anxious to get 

 hold of a piece of land, and the Society happened 



* The following account is taken from the evidence given 

 by the secretary, Mr. Jesse Marlow, before the Committee on 

 Small Holdings, 1906. 



