1920.1 



Ideal Homes Exhibiton. 



81 



IDEAL HOMES EXHIBITION: 



THE MINISTRY'S MODEL ALLOTMENT. 



In pursuance of a definite policy of Horticultural Education, 

 the various County Authorities in England and Wales have 

 been approached by the Ministry and asked to set up special 

 committees whose duty should be the fostering of com-, 

 mercial and domestic fruit and vegetable cultivation to meet 

 the requirements of the respective counties. 



With the object of making suggestions as to the lines on 

 which demonstration plots might be set up, special plans 

 dealing with allotments, market-gardening and fruit have 

 been sent to each County Authority. Many of the counties 

 have already adopted the scheme in its entirety, and others 

 have modified it to suit the particular types of cropping most 

 suited to districts in which the plots have been set up. It 

 is hoped that eventually every County in England and Wales 

 will carry out some portion of the scheme. 



In the case of the allotment, the scheme should have a 

 practical application to every part of the country, and 

 although the summer, autumn and winter cropping will 

 have to be modified to suit the altitude, latitude and general 

 climatic conditions prevailing in different districts, the 

 arrangement of the general crops will hold good over the 

 whole country. 



Towards the close of 191 9, the Daily Mail approached the 

 Ministry with a view to obtaining suggestions for the cropping 

 of a vegetable plot which might be worked by the prospective 

 tenants of the types of cottage to be shown at the Ideal Homes 

 Exhibition in February. It was suggested by the Ministry 

 that the mcdel allotment showing the cropping, soil preparation 

 and manuring, as the£e operations appear in the month of 

 February, would be a suitable exhibit. This was provisional! y 

 of. ered, but when the promoters of the Exhibition approached 

 Messrs. Sutton & Sons of Reading, that firm immediately 

 proposed to produce the full cropping scheme as it would appear 

 in June under normal climatic conditions. 



Although only five weeks were available to get the crops 

 ready, the allotment appeared on 4th February fully cropped 

 as it should appear in June. It proved a source of great interest 

 to those visiting OlyYnpia, and was undoubtedly of great 

 educational value. Addresses were given each evenings 



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