1920.] 



Cultivation of Land. 



7 



total area of about 64,000 acres. In a large number of cases 

 the land has been let to suitable tenants for a period of two 

 years after the termination of war, with a possible extension 

 for a further period of three years. A great part of the land, 

 however, has been kept in hand and farmed under the super- 

 vision of the Executive Committees. In some counties, 

 such as Essex, Kent, Leicestershire and East and West Suffolk, 

 practically all the land taken over has been dealt with in this 

 way. The total area farmed either directly or indirectly 

 by the Agricultural Executive Committees was at one time 

 nearly 40,000 acres. 



During the past year numerous farms have been inspected, 

 and reports afford striking evidence of the beneficial results 

 of action taken by County Committees. In Essex, for instance, 

 land which was acquired as a building estate about twenty 

 years ago and sold in small plots, was taken over by the Com- 

 mittee on behalf of the Ministry in the summer of 1917. It 

 was overgrown with scrub, and barely sufficed to maintain 

 a few cattle and sheep in store condition. Hedges grew wild, 

 ditches filled up, and drains became blocked. Cultivation 

 began in the early autumn, and by May, 191 8, out of a total 

 of 166 acres, 82 acres were already under crop, 33 acres were 

 being bare-fallowed in preparation for wheat, and 49 acres 

 were still in grass. The transformation effected on this land 

 reflects the greatest credit on the management. Another 

 case is that of a farm of 250 acres in Kent, which was entered 

 on in March, 191 7, and was in such a bad state that it was 

 reported to be not worth cultivating. The farm was inspected 

 in August, 1 91 8, when it was found that 47 acres were under 

 wheat, 15 acres under oats, 25 acres under barley, 14 acres 

 under peas, 6 acres under clover hay, and 14 acres under 

 vetches. This work was accomplished by the Committee 

 with the minimum of expense, and even better results are 

 expected this season. 



When giving up a farm which has been entered, the Ministry 

 has a statutory right to recover the value to the owner or an 

 incoming tenant of the improvements effected ; in a few cases 

 this may amount to some thousands of pounds. The policy 

 of the Ministry is to withdraw from possession subject to this 

 right, provided that satisfactory arrangements are made for 

 carrying on the cultivation of a farm, either by the owner 

 himself or by a tenant, and a number of Agricultural Executive 

 Committees are now withdrawing from land of which they had 

 taken possession. In the case of Cheshire, for instance, the 



