124 



Farming on Breck-land. 



[may, 



well and the sheep folded on them thrive. One-year leys are 

 successful and lucerne will last between 4 and 5 years. 



The success of the experiment on 200 acres, in the face of 

 difficulties that might well have seemed overwhelming, and 

 in the face of tradition that might well have appeared inviolable, 

 led the Ministry in October of last year to purchase a further 

 1,300 acres of land, owned also by the Duchy of Lancaster, 

 and rather worse, if possible, than the first lot. It is part of 

 what was formerly a large single estate, but the land has been 

 allowed to run out ; the hedges are overgrown and practically 

 worthless ; the soil is deficient in potash, and before attempting 

 to sow corn it has been found necessar}^ to grow green crops 

 and fold sheep on them. Yet even with this unpromising land 

 there is ample material for experiment and not a little prospect 

 of success. For example, it was realised at once that here 

 was soil suitable for experiments in open-air pig keeping. 

 There is nothing to fear from excess of moisture ; there are 

 plantations of larch and pine together with great expanses 

 of bracken, so that all the material for rough shelters and 

 bedding is to hand. In a little while the houses will be set 

 up and the pigs will be taking their chance. 



Another side-line is tobacco, to which 10 acres have been 

 allotted for the present year, with a further 20 to follow in 

 1 92 1. For the preparation of tobacco it is necessary to raise 

 the seed in frames heated by hot water pipes. This work 

 is done in March, and the plants are set out in the open in May, 

 but as frames were not available in time on the Methwold 

 farm, the seed has been raised at Brandon, and is being planted 

 out from there. Already drying-sheds and rehandling houses 

 are in building and will be finished in time for this year's crop. 



A further expeririient for which preparations are now being 

 made is arable dairy farming on the method originated at the 

 Harper Adams College, Newport, vShropshire. It is hoped 

 to start the dairjr during the summer. 



Yet another undertaking, whi':^h should be in operation 

 by the time these lines are printed, is the poultry farm for 

 disabled ex-soldiers, a feature of the Ministry's larm settlements. 

 Buildings were already erected in April| the incubators were 

 installed and the instructor was in charge. It is proposed to 

 give the men who go to this branch of the Methwold establish- 

 ment a year's training, to include some horticultural work, 

 as the advisability of adding something to poultry farming 

 as a means of livelihood has been .very properh^ recognised. 



