28 THE BOSTON DISTRICT 



and the system of ordinary four-course farming is 

 pursued. 



On the other hand, in the fen districts and 

 marsh lands between Boston and the east coast of 

 Lincolnshire there is a very large proportion of 

 small holdings. The land here is naturally very 

 productive, and grows heavy crops of wheat, beans, 

 turnips, mustard, and potatoes. A strip of light, 

 silty land, known as the toft land, runs between the 

 marsh and the fen from Boston to Wainfleet by 

 Friskney and Kirton. It is specially suitable for 

 early potatoes, and many people on it are making 

 a living out of 5 or 6 acres. 



The average size of the smaller holdings on the 

 fen land is from 10 to 30 acres. 



Cultivation. 



Celery and early potatoes are the mainstay of 

 the small holder in this district. Every cottage 

 garden has its celery frame. It is not unusual to 

 get three crops off' the best land viz., cabbage, 

 which is planted out in early autumn and got off 

 in spring in time to put in potatoes and celery, the 

 latter being planted between the potatoes in every 

 third row. The average crop of potatoes is 5 to 

 8 tons per acre for earlies, and 8 to 10 for second 

 earlies. In a good year 25 to 30 is easily made 

 per acre. 1 heard of one case where a man got 

 22 10s. off half an acre. At the end of June ll 

 a ton has been given ; by the end of July it will drop 

 to 4. The potatoes from this district come on the 



