78 CATSHILL 



supposed, however, that they are bigoted, or 

 that they do not hsten to new ideas. If a 

 mention of co-operation was regarded with 

 suspicion, the suggestion of a common pasture 

 with grazing rights was received with appro- 

 bation. But their sense of proprietorship is 

 very strong. The individual may have 

 become self-centred, but character, thrift, and 

 enterprise have been stimulated to a wonderful 

 degree. 



The proximity of Birmingham as a market 

 has undoubtedly been a great asset to the suc- 

 cess of this experiment. The ever-present diffi- 

 culties of marketing are overcome naturally, 

 and a small-holder can be confident of obtain- 

 ing a fair price for his produce. But it is 

 nevertheless remarkable that these small pro- 

 prietors have attained success with only the 

 opportunity to enable them to purchase their 

 holdings on reasonable terms, and even those 

 terms not unduly favourable. Once in occu- 

 pation their prospects depended entirely on 

 their own initiative, and it is interesting to 

 notice how they have been rewarded for hard 

 work and enterprise. The land was un- 

 doubtedly in a rank state when they took it 



