120 THE LAND 



Special attention must be given to the land 

 it is proposed to purchase and devote to the 

 development of a village farm. Two possible 

 occupiers have to be dealt with : the man who 

 can profitably work his holding in conjunction 

 with other employment, and the man who 

 proposes to make an entire living from his 

 property. It is probable that in some cases 

 it may be advantageous to create a group 

 entirely composed of the former class, and it is 

 equally certain that rarely should a group be 

 created under the latter head which does not 

 provide an opportunity for local workers to 

 augment their earnings and improve their posi- 

 tion by the ownership of a small property. In 

 the case of a village community acquiring 

 holdings for cultivation, although poor land is 

 to be regretted, the introduction of a scheme 

 need not unnecessarily be checked on this 

 account. An acre or so of indifferent land, not 

 expected to yield a total living, may yet be an 

 invaluable acquisition to individual workers in 

 certain districts. The opportunity for expan- 

 sion and development, so badly needed, will be 

 given, and one of the main causes for the decline 

 of our rural villages will be eradicated. 



