1907.] Small Holdings on Crown Lands. 



283 



growing substantial crops of roots, oats and rye grass, rye 

 cut green and tares. 



The two larger farms adjoin main roads. The water supply 

 is satisfactory, and the farm buildings substantial. There 

 is a drainage rate of ys. per acre on all the fen land, com- 

 prising about 300 acres, and a tithe rent charge of about 

 8s. per acre on the remaining portion of the estate. 



This farm became vacant at Michaelmas, 1904. No tenant 

 could be found to take it as a whole, and the Commissioners 

 of Woods and Forests were therefore compelled to farm it 

 themselves. The farming accounts for those two years show 

 an actual loss of £690 17s. 3^. without allowing for rent or 

 the fees paid to the Crown receivers for superintendence. 

 Early in 1906 Mr. C. D. Rose, M.P., for the Newmarket 

 Division, who was anxious to try the experiment of estab- 

 lishing small holdings on inferior land, applied to take the 

 farm for that purpose, and it was eventually let to him on 

 lease for 21 years at a rent of £700 a year, subject to his 

 paying the land tax and drainage rates, and keeping the 

 houses and buildings in repair. This rent was certified by 

 the late Crown receivers as being such as the farm was worth 

 to let in the open market. The Commissioners on their part 

 agreed to put the buildings into satisfactory repair, and they 

 have expended £1,055 12s - 6d. on this account. In addition 

 they have up to the present spent just under £1,800 in adapting 

 and altering the houses and buildings to fit them for small 

 holding tenants. 



This sum has been expended as follows : — 



£ s. d. 



New fencing ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 192 7 9 



One new homestead 80 17 6 



Alterations and additions to live other homesteads ... 802 o o 

 Altering and adding to nine cottages, providing dairies, 



extra bedrooms and outbuildings ... ... ... 723 16 6 , 



£1,799 1 9 



Mr. Rose as lessee has agreed to pay 4 per cent, per annum 

 on the outlay in alterations and improvements in the shape 

 of additional rent, and the rent he is charging to his sub- 

 tenants is sufficient to cover the full rent and outgoings 

 together with interest and sinking fund on all outlay and a 

 sufficient margin for expenses of management. 



