78 THE EVESHAM DISTRICT 



it has proved to be a mistake on his part. I have 

 often talked to the men about it, and they say the 

 money is of more advantage if they can get at it if 

 they want to deal or what not. I think when this 

 class of men want to invest they don't buy the 

 land they make the money out of, but buy cottage 

 property.' 



Demand for Land. 



That there is still an unsatisfied demand for land 

 to hire is shown by the keen competition for vacant 

 plots. One man interviewed, who had secured a 

 3-acre lot with no crops on it, had to pay 10 to 

 get it ; the Clerk of the Hampton Parish Council 

 stated that the Council could let a good deal more 

 land if it could be had. A man ready for a piece 

 of land, whether through having saved enough for 

 'ingoing' or having got his original piece estab- 

 lished, often has to wait a long time before he can 

 secure it. On the other hand, some of the heavier 

 land some distance away from Evesham, which has 

 already been mentioned as the first land to be cut 

 up, has been thrown up by the small tenants, and 

 is let at a nominal rent to one man, as no other 

 tenants could be secured. The reason appears to 

 be that the men have been able to get holdings 

 nearer their own homes and more conveniently 

 situated for the disposal of their produce ; and 

 whilst they were satisfied with this land when no 

 other could be had, they prefer now to wait in the 

 hope of getting the better lots which are at present 



