A SUCCESSFUL SMALL HOLDER 177 



The soil is very poor and stony, and lies on 

 inferior oolite stone, which drains away all moisture ; 

 the place is also very much exposed to east winds, 

 so that for ordinary market-gardening purposes it 

 is not very well adapted, in spite of the proximity 

 of Bath as a market. 



A Successful Small Holder. 



What can be done by an enterprising man with 

 a knowledge of his business is well illustrated 

 by the one man, formerly a gardener, who is 

 making a living entirely on 2 acres. 



While still living in Bath, where he kept a 

 lodging-house, he started with ^ acre, for which 

 he paid 40, and grew tomatoes. In a short time 

 the profits enabled him to build a house on the 

 place, and he gave up his other occupation. 



He now has six large glass-houses, in which he 

 grows in succession Marguerite daisies, tomatoes, 

 and chrysanthemums. He employs two men 

 regularly, besides odd labour at busy times. 



The Marguerite daisies are sold in pots at prices 

 ranging from 10s. to 2s. 6d. a dozen. A large 

 number are sent to Dublin and Birmingham. He 

 disposed of about 10,000 last year. 



The tomatoes, amounting to 5 or 6 tons yearly, 

 are mostly sold in Bath. 



The poverty of the soil is so great that the 

 potting earth for the chrysanthemums is made by 

 mixing soil and manure half and half. 



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