52 ROCK AND FAR FOREST 



and the amount of fruit. Amongst places visited 

 I found the following rents : A farm of 20 acres, at 

 3 an acre, with very little fruit ; 7 acres at 30, 

 13 acres at 40, both well fruited ; 24 acres 

 at 40. 



Some years ago 800 acres of forest land were 

 bought at a little over 4 10s. an acre. The 

 average price for a small farm would be from 50 

 to 60 an acre. Not many miles away a small 

 plot of sterile land on high ground has been bought 

 for 100 an acre by a town man for building 

 purposes. The competition for any small freehold 

 which comes into the market has become so great 

 owing to this class of purchaser that the prices 

 paid for them are far beyond their economic value 

 to the bona fide small holders. 



Co-operative Experiments. 



There have been two undertakings on these lines 

 in the neighbourhood which have recently been 

 amalgamated under the name of the Forest Supply 

 Association, Ltd. 



The Vicar's Farm, Ltd., was originally started 

 by the Vicar of Far Forest, the Rev. G. F. Eyre, 

 to deal with the supply of pure-bred poultry, eggs, 

 and bottled milk, and to give expert advice on 

 matters connected with poultry-farming. 



The effect of this venture on the local methods 

 of poultry-farming can be readily traced. Many 

 of the poultry houses and runs have been bought 



