1920.] 



Farms Cultivated by Women. 



1161 



and can be generally recommended in suitable districts, espec- 

 ially in regions with a high rainfall where cereal growing is 

 risky. 



By adopting the soiling system it is possible to increase 

 production over what can be obtained from the established 

 four-course rotation, the latter being most profitable with 

 medium rather than high farming. The soiling system increases 

 production, and at the same time lowers costs per unit of pro- 

 duce. The success of these experiments suggests a new stan- 

 dard in farming, the ultimate possibiUties of which cannot be 

 gauged. 



Arable land dairying offers a hopeful opportunity for an 

 immediate increase in the output of British agriculture, as well 

 as the prohtable em.ployment of capital, the regeneration of 

 the countryside, and the home production of essential human 

 food. 



****** 



During the War women who volunteered for service on the 



land to help in the emergency, and wished after the War to 



farm on their own account, were promised 

 Farms cultivated • i r t r ^i, 



by Women special lacinties. in pui'suance of this 



promise the Women's Branch of the 



Ministry and County Committees in charge of the Land Army 



considered the establishment of a number of farms to be run bv 



women as a preHminary to successful land settlement . Financial 



difhculties delayed the scheme for some time, but it was finally 



decided that the Women's Branch and the Women's Commitees 



m'ght take over the working of certain derelict farms if they 



were prepared to do so. These farms had been taken from 



their tenants by the County Executive Committees under the 



Defence of the Realm Regulations, and were, therefore, some 



of the worst cultivated in their respective counties. In spite 



of these difficulties he women undertook the work, and the 



following farms were taken over ; — 



(a) Moor House Farm Scruton, Yorkshire. (140 acres.) 



(b) Creech Barrow Farm, Somerset. (10 acres, all grass.) 



(c) Grove Farm, Newport, Mon. (150 acres.) 



(d) Great Bidlake, Devon. (134 acres.)* 



(e) Common Farm, Church Hill, \\'orcestershire. (161 



acres.) 



Of these only the Somerset and Devon farms were not dere- 

 lict. The management of each farm was entrusted either to the 



* An article on the cultivation of this farm was pablished in this Journal, 

 October, 191 8, p. 834. 



