G8 OPINION OF EXPERTS 



any other part of the country, and, although 

 good for corn-growing, about as ill-suited for 

 creating a group of small holdings as could 

 well be imagined. 



Mr. Fels was warned by experts of the 

 unsuitability of the soil for his purpose. It 

 was urged that the distance from the railway — 

 some four and a half miles from Althorne 

 station— was an additional difficulty. The 

 absence of any market town in the locality 

 was pointed out as yet another reason for the 

 futility of attempting the experiment. But 

 IMr. Fels was deaf to advice and blinded by a 

 puerile enthusiasm to put his scheme into 

 operation. " Not being a farmer," and entirely 

 unacquainted with the difficulties of the 

 problem, he overruled the counsel of friends 

 and of experts, and insisted on carrying his 

 proposition through. 



It was in this frame of mind that the project 

 was entered upon by its founder. As a start 

 200 acres of land were divided into lots of five 

 acres apiece. Three acres in each holding 

 were planted up with young fruit-trees, the 

 remaining two acres being left to the discretion 

 of the prospective occupiers. A house and 



