PART-TIME FARMING 107 



The main object of investigation in the town of Holden was to deter- 

 mine the extent of part-time farming in the community as compared with 

 regular agriculture. Accordingly, a house-to-house survey was made in 

 the spring of 1929, and information was obtained as to the extent of 

 agricultural activities and occupation of operators from each household 

 practicing some kind of agriculture, irrespective of the size of enterprise. 

 This survey included both regular and part-time farmers. 



Description of the Area 



About the middle of the last century tliere were in operation in Holden 

 seven industrial plants.^ Now, however, there is only one, which is en- 

 gaged in the manufacture of overcoatings and cloakings and employs 

 between 250 and 300 operatives. The next important employer in Holden 

 is the Boston Metropolitan Water Works, which employs from 200 to 250 

 laborers in the shafts situated in tlie Holden section. In addition, some 

 employment is provided by work on the farms, the roads, and by mis- 

 cellaneous odd jobs. 



Table 1. — Place of employment of operators and average distance traveled. 



While a considerable number of operators engaged in part-time farming 

 fmd employment in the towns in which they live (Table 1), the majority 

 must rely for outside employment on the nearest industrial center. For 

 the operators in Holden this is the City of Worcester. 



The transportation facilities in Holden include the Boston and Maine 

 Railroad with a station at Jefferson in the northeastern section of the 

 town. The electric car line which formerly ran from Worcester through 

 almost the entire length of the town has discontinued its operation except 

 for a small section adjoining Worcester. Instead, bus transportation 

 became available from W^orceser to Rutland, representing the principal 

 means of public conveyance for the people of the town. 



The types of soil found are characterized by a diversity typical of most 

 glaciated agricultural regions. Most of the soils require heavy fertiliza- 

 tion in order to produce good crops. In Holden about 50 per cent of tlie 

 town area contains stony or rough land. Where the land has been cleared 

 of stones, it is fairly good for crops. Some of the land which was former- 

 ly cultivated, however, has reverted to brush and imimproved pasture. 



3 Damon, Samuel C. The History of Holden, Massachusetts. Wallace and Ripley, 

 Worcester, Mass. 1841. 



