AN EVESHAM SYNDICATE 297 



but in a report of this description can only touch on a few of the 

 most important points. 



In conclusion, I may say that, if suitable land can be provided 

 (and there is plenty to be had in the district), and let in small 

 holdings, on a fair tenancy agreement, at a reasonable rent, with 

 such cottage accommodation as I have described, the increase in 

 the small holding industry will be enormous, and we shall see 

 many who have gone into the towns come back to the land again. 



I am, 



Yours faithfully, 



RAYMOND WEBB. 



The inquiry thus made is likely to have a very 

 practical outcome. During the course of 1905 the 

 syndicate in question bought up five small estates, 

 comprising an area of about 1,000 acres, in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Evesham, with a view to cutting them 

 up, partly into small holdings of 3, 5, or 10 acres 

 each, and partly into small farms of from 40 to 50 

 or even 70 acres each, principally for market- 

 gardening, fruit-growing, and dairy purposes. With 

 their local knowledge, and as private individuals, the 

 members of the syndicate were able to purchase the 

 land at * bottom prices ' prices, in fact, much lower 

 than a local authority buying in the open market would 

 have had to pay and with their practical experience, 

 they bought only such land as they knew to be suitable 

 for the desired purpose. On the holdings that are 

 sufficiently large to support a family, the syndicate will 

 build cottages, and these are to be constructed of 

 cement-sand bricks or cement blocks, as used in some 

 of the cottages shown at the Letchworth exhibition in 

 the summer of 1905. The dwellings will be of such 

 a type that they can be let at a rental of about 45. 6d. 

 a week. 



The syndicate will give facilities to persons who may 

 desire to purchase allotments or holdings from them ; 

 but the majority of the applicants, it is expected, will 



