UPWEY, DORSET 87 



station is fruit, which is sent to Portland. This 

 seems to indicate that the large amount of market- 

 gardening produce grown in the neighbourhood 

 can be disposed of locally. 



Population. 



The population is about 800. The last three 

 census returns show a steady increase ; all the other 

 villages in the Weymouth district show a decrease. 



Agriculture. 



The agriculture of the surrounding country is of 

 the usual type on the chalk formation : corn-grow- 

 ing and sheep-breeding on the large hill farms and 

 dairying in the valleys. There has been a tendency 

 to reduce the size of farms. An agent in the district 

 informed me that he always advises the cutting up 

 of very large farms into 200 and 300 acre lots, as 

 no one has the capital now to deal with larger 

 quantities. 



In the valley of the Wey, in which Upwey is 

 situated, there is a broad tract of very fertile land 

 which, with its sunny aspect and shelter from the 

 prevalent cold winds, is an excellent forward situa- 

 tion for market-gardening. 



Types of Small Holdings. 



The small holdings occur in and about the long 

 straggling village, and are for the most part worked 

 as market-gardens ; the remainder are used by their 

 owners in conjunction with some business one 



