71 



sprung. In West Herefordshire we have many large estates 

 of 7,000 to 10,000 acres; the owners being large game pre- 

 servers preferred to have large farms rather than small hold- Allotment. 



ings. Where these existed they have been bought up by the 



large owners, and the demand for them growing, they have 

 often let for more than double the rent of adjoining farms/' 

 Mr. Turner does not consider that the want of small holdings 

 has contributed much to the decline in population. 



(b.) Counties of Somerset, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall. 



SOMERSET. The supply of allotments appears to be more than 

 sufficient for requirements. Mr. Berry says : " Many have 

 been given up and are now full of weeds ; at least half in this 

 parish are idle at present, clearly proving to me that the decline 

 in the labouring population was not due to the want of land." 

 Mr. Gibbons writes : *' In our parish, although we have a mixed 

 agricultural and mining population, not half the allotments are 

 occupied ; this is not a solitary case, but is general in the dis- 

 trict." Mr. Parsons writes : " When the Allotments Act of 

 1887 was passed, everyone wanted allotments, but now tenants 

 cannot be found for them." 



Small holdings let readily and at higher rents than large 

 farms, but this is accounted for by the proportionately greater 

 cost of the buildings. If situated near towns and on good land, 

 a greater number would be an advantage. Mr. Berry writes : 

 " It would be expensive to make small holdings on account 

 of house and buildings having to be erected, but if more 

 of 10 to 50 acres existed I believe they would find tenants and 

 probably maintain a family, but, generally, I notice that small 

 holdings are not well farmed, and if the farmer and his family 

 would work for a large farmer as they do on their own farm, 

 they -would be better off; a small holding on poor land is 

 useless." Mr. Gibbons says : " We have a number of small 

 farms, but changes are most frequent, 'and one after another is 

 sold up." 



DORSET. Allotments appear to be readily obtainable. In 

 many places they have been given up, but it is thought that 

 the demand would be increased if a ready market could be 

 found for surplus produce. While in some districts there is 

 little demand for small holdings, in others they are keenly 

 competed for. Mr. Duke writes : ''As regards the small hold- 

 ing, which I take to be anything from 10 to 50 acres, a large 

 area in the county is not adapted for this kind of husbandry, 

 and it is probable that in many parts if the better land were 

 taken for this purpose it would tend to throw .more of the poor 

 land to which it is now' attached out of cultivation. There is 

 just now a considerable demand for this class of holding, but 

 applicants are not of the agricultural labourer class, but mostly 

 small tradesmen and townsfolk, Whose experience is very 



