A LIVELIHOOD ON ONE ACRE 249 



not so much bush fruits. The soil varies from a 

 stiff loam to a light sandy loam. 



A great many pigs are kept, of which the bulk 

 are used for home consumption, or sold cured to 

 the Society. 



DISPOSAL or PRODUCE. 



Much of the produce is consumed locally. 

 When asked if there was no local glut, Mr. 

 Marlow, the secretary, stated that this was not the 

 case, and that a demand seemed to be created by 

 the production, especially in the case of tomatoes. 

 Small wholesale dealers also collect produce for the 

 markets at Market Harborough and Kettering, 

 which is six miles distant. 



The following two instances are given of men 

 making an entire living on 1 acre of land : 



1. The owner is forty years old, and has four 

 children (all under ten years of age) ; he was 

 formerly a coachman and gardener, and then a 

 shoemaker. He began business in 1895 on his 

 own account, with a 20-acre plot of land and one 

 greenhouse (9 feet by 20 feet). He borrowed 

 money from the local building society to build his 

 dwelling-house. He now has 62 perches under 

 cultivation, and five green-houses. He has recently 

 acquired Ij acres of grass land on easy terms of 

 purchase, and proposes to plant this with fruit-trees. 

 He employs one man occasionally cultivates 

 ferns, tomatoes, cucumbers, flowers, window and 

 bedding plants. His specialities are flowers for 



