SMALL MEANS: GOOD RESULTS 273 



20 per cent, was realized in 1903, and one of 12 J per 

 cent, in 1904 (when some heavy expenditure was found 

 necessary), while one of 25 per cent, was anticipated 

 for 1905. The sums dealt in are, of course, small. In 

 the first year of the society's existence, as such, the 

 receipts were under 10, and the financial statement 

 for that year contains the intimation, ' Balance due to 

 treasurer, 2s. 8d.' Even in 1904 the turnover was less 

 than 200. Yet, with such modest resources as these, 

 the society has found it possible to provide separate 

 allotments just beyond the limits of a penny tramcar- 

 ride of the centre of Leicester for no fewer than 172 

 working-men, with all the present and prospective 

 advantages which, as I have ventured to affirm, those 

 allotments are calculated to afford. 



But to appreciate to the full extent all that is being 

 done, a visit to the allotments themselves is essential, 

 and such visit I paid under the escort of the president, 

 Mr. Jeffs, himself a worker in the Wheatsheaf Boot 

 and Shoe Factory and tenant of an allotment. 



The first fact which strikes the visitor's attention is 

 the great variety of produce these amateur market- 

 gardeners are able to grow on such comparatively 

 small patches of ground. * Thanks to vigorous spade- 

 work,' said Mr. Jeffs, the * productiveness of the soil is 

 increased fourfold '; and his own allotment was suffi- 

 cient in itself to confirm the truth of his assertion. 

 Here, in the course of the year, he had grown, on 

 600 square yards of land, potatoes, peas, brussels 

 sprouts, cabbages, kale, kidney-beans, carrots, parsnips, 

 onions, black currants, red currants, strawberries, 

 various herbs, and a choice collection of flowers. Such 

 of the crops as remained looked, too, in very good 

 condition, a fact which Mr. Jeffs accounted for by his 

 belief in the principle and practice of deep cultivation. 



18 



