The Equipment of Small Holdings. 



[Dec, 



which was of immense value, and indeed a necessity. To one 

 who was specially concerned with the development of agricul- 

 ture, with a view to increased production and increased national 

 safety, the problems of attracting labour to the land and of 

 keeping it there were of serious import. Unless the con- 

 ditions of rural life were made much more tolerable and 

 attractive, it would be impossible to persuade the new and 

 more intelligent class of labour to remain. Among agricultural 

 labourers the War had created a general discontent with the 

 old conditions of rural life, and had aroused a very proper 

 aspiration for wider vision and larger opportunities of thought 

 and instruction. There was likewise something akin to a 

 revolt on the part of the wives against the intolerable dulness 

 •of the old village life. This new spirit, and the movement 

 which sought to give effect to it, called for whole-hearted co- 

 operative effort on the part of all classes of the iiuai 

 community. 



****** 



The urgent question of housing and of building construction 



generally is one with which the small holder is vitally con- 



_ . . - cerned, and to supplv his needs steps are 

 The Equipment of 1 . ' ^ n \ n i + 

 Small Holdin s* ^^'^^^ County Councils to ascer- 



^ . . . * tain the most economic and efficient means 



Cottage Planmng. „ ^ ^. 



® ° of construction. 



A comprehensive body of information on the subject has 

 recently been issued by the Ministry in its " ^Manual for the 

 Cxuidance of County Councils and their Architects in the Equip- 

 ment of Small Holdings."" The Manual is divided into two 

 parts: (1) The Planning and Construction of Cottages, and 

 (2) The Planning and Construction of Farm Buildings. 



The object of this note is to review briefly that part of the 

 work which deals specially with the country cottage. The 

 intention of the plans set forth is to illustrate the recommenda- 

 tions made and to establish a general standard of convenient 

 planning and stimulate operations consistent w^ith the building 

 traditions of England and Wales. Owing to the abnormally 

 high cost of building at the present time and the need for 

 economy, such a practical guide should be welcomed by all 

 those whose office or profession requires them to face building 



(Jl)tai liable from H.M. Stationery Office, Imperial House, Kiugsw ny, 

 London, W.C.2, price Is. 6d. net. 



