FARMING AND FOXHUNTING 



income. This fact, I believe, brought Mr. Ash- 

 ford on the scene about the year 1893. To him 

 very much credit is due in restoring the Estate to 

 a paying proposition. During his forty-five years 

 as Estate Agent, twenty-six of which he also man- 

 aged the home farm, the property has been re- 

 generated out of all recognition. It might be 

 argued that the return has been a minor one, but 

 those who think this must remember the recon- 

 struction of farm property to meet the need of 

 modern farming was most necessary, following the 

 declining return from arable land which set in 

 during the 'nineties. It was imperative to intro- 

 duce the product of milk if the farms were to 

 be a letable proposition. Had he not moved 

 along these lines there was no possibility of his 

 maintaining his rent roll. Mr. Ashford has the 

 satisfaction of knowing that when he gave up 

 farming Burderop he was able to hand over some 

 twenty thousand pounds to the credit side of 

 General Galley's banking account. I well recollect 

 my contribution to this amount, for I was called 

 upon to write a cheque for over £9,000 for the 

 valuation, including only hay, straw, tillage and 

 tenant's fixtures. It had never been my experience, 

 nor has it since, to make such a sudden raid upon 

 my banker. I am quite conscious that since that 

 date I have given him a shock or two, but bankers 

 soon survive when you make the slightest hint that 

 even banks must be keen competitors in business. 

 It took me many years before I felt quite confident 

 to deal with a new set of circumstances which 



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