SIZE FOR A LIVING 131 



In 1889 Mr. Ripley approximates possible 

 returns on a 4-acre holding at 14 10s. i.e., 6s. 

 a week + the value of the house. The price 

 of potatoes had fallen considerably averaging 5s. 

 a bag and going as low as 3s. 6d. 



Size for a Living. 



Except in the cases of garden cultivation, 

 10 acres seemed to be considered a possible size 

 for a living. Several are making an entire living 

 by having two or three of the allotments, of which, 

 perhaps, they would be the owners of one or two 

 and rent the others. 



The men on some of the smaller holdings work 

 regularly for wages, and get their land ploughed by 

 the larger ones, who keep a horse. Others do job 

 work and fill up their time on the holdings. 



One of the holders in 1889 gave evidence before 

 the Small Holdings Commission. He had been a 

 farm-labourer at 10s. a week ; he took a 2-acre 

 holding in 1880, for which he paid 8 rent and 

 13s. 7d. tithe. The value of house-rent out of this 

 would be 3. He grew barley, roots, and potatoes, 

 and kept pigs and poultry. He consumed all his 

 produce on the place, selling only pigs and 

 potatoes. He was now a mason's labourer at 3jd. 

 an hour, and worked his holding in winter and in 

 his spare time. He had to get his land ploughed 

 for him. 



There are many instances to show how the best 

 men have been able to work their own way up. 



92 



