18 EPWORTH, ISLE OF AXHOLME 



The following reports on holdings which are of 

 natural occurrence are divided into two classes. 

 First, those which exist as a survival of ancient 

 times in the Isle of Axholme, in the neighbourhood 

 of Boston, in Wensleydale, and near Bewdley in 

 Shropshire. Secondly, those which have developed 

 as a natural growth in more recent times viz., 

 those devoted to fruit-growing at Calstock in 

 Cornwall and at Wisbech in Cambridgeshire ; to 

 market-gardening at Upwey in Dorset and Sandy 

 in Bedfordshire ; and to seed-growing at Tiptree in 

 Essex. An account is also given of the market- 

 garden and fruit-holdings at Evesham, which form 

 a sort of link between the two classes, the sub- 

 stratum of ancient holdings here having very largely 

 developed in recent times. 



I. SMALL HOLDINGS WHICH ARE A 

 SURVIVAL OF ANCIENT TIMES. 



EPWORTH, ISLE OF AXHOLME. 



The conditions in the Isle of Axholme approxi- 

 mate nearer to those of peasant proprietors on 

 the Continent than in any other part of England. 

 There are large tracts of land divided up into 

 unfenced strips, locally known as selions, of from 

 to 2 acres each. The small holders live in the 

 villages, each cultivating one or more of the selions. 

 Many of them hold up to 20 acres in widely 

 separated strips. Most of them are freeholders, 



