SMALL HOLDINGS 169 



from 202 tenants of 1,323. The most 

 conclusive evidence of the value of these 

 holdings is the constant demand for more 

 land. Concurrently with this experiment 

 there has been a considerable increase of small 

 farmers and allotment holders, tenants either 

 of Lord Lincolnshire or the Holland County 

 Council. The effect on population in nineteen 

 parishes round Spalding has been remarkable. 

 In 1881 it was 38,000 odd. In 1891 it had 

 decreased, like that of so many agricultural 

 districts, by 2,282. But from 1891 to 1901 

 it decreased only by 115. 



This is an example of holdings which have 

 succeeded mainly through the fertility of the 

 fen lands on which they are situated. Other 

 examples could be given that, for instance, 

 of the strawberry growers at Calstock, in 

 Cornwall, on the southern slope of the charm- 

 ing valley that runs down to Davenport in 

 which success has been due to the suitability 

 of the situation for some special crop. 



As instances of small holdings which owe 

 their success to their nearness to markets, we 

 may quote those in the neighbourhood of 

 Bath and those in the Dartford district of 

 Kent, which runs up almost into the south- 

 east corner of London ; those at Rew and 

 Winterslow ; and those of Verwood, in Dorset- 



