1920.] Agricultural Executive Committees. 441 



number describing tbose farms wbich were cultivated entirely 

 by women of the Land Army. 



Where satisfactory arrangements can be made for future culti- 

 vation, the land taken over under Regulation 2M in being relin- 

 quished, while in other cases the farms are beng used ns training 

 centres for ex-Service men. In a few instances the land has been 

 acquired for purposes of land settlement, and in Worcestershire 

 one farm taken over and brought into a good state of cultivation 

 by the Agricultural Executive Committee is now being utilised 

 as a Farm Institute in connection with agricultural education. 



Special difficulties are being experienced in connection with 

 derelict building estates taken over in Essex. Kent and Sussex. 

 These consist of areas of ^giicultural land which liave been sold 

 in small plots for building purposes, but have never been built 

 upon. IMuch land of this kind was taken over during the War 

 and brouglit back to cultivation after many years of neglect. 

 Isolated plot holders are now applying for the release of their 

 plots for building, and owing to the shortage of houses and the 

 compensation that would be payable if these plots w^ere retained 

 contrary to the wishes of the owners, the policy of the Ministry 

 is to vacate such of the land as is required immediately for 

 building. Great difficulty must inevitably result in carrying on 

 the cultivation of the rest of the land when isolated plots, with 

 the necessary access, are relinquished. 



One such building estate in Sussex has produced remarkable 

 crops, although at the time of entry by the Committee in 1917 

 it was practically derelict. There are no farm buildings, and 

 the cultivation has been carried on with excellent restdts under 

 veiy adverse circumstances. It affords a striking example of 

 success in continuous com cropping with the abundant use of 

 artificial manures, and great credit is due to the Evecutive Com- 

 mittee and its officers for their skilful management of the enter- 

 prise. Owing to the demand by many of the plot-owners to have 

 their land back in ordei' to build on it, this estate is to be 

 relinquished after the growing crops have been harvested. 



The difficulties experienced by Agricultural Executive Com- 

 mittees in dealing with cases of gross negligence and incompetence 

 are exemplified by a case in Durham. This fartu was in a 

 notoriously dilapidated condition, neither the owner nor the 

 occupier (both of whom resided in the farmhouse) being capable 

 of farming it properly. The service of Cultivation Notices had 

 not the slightest effect, although the tenant was prosecuted and 

 fined for n(\gligence. The Couuuittee also made unsuccessful 



