90 



Small Holdings in Hampshire. 



[may, 



by the larger growers a man's rate of pay is usually from 

 3s. to 4s. per day. Women generally do the bunching, and are 

 paid \d. per dozen or 2s. id. per hundred dozen, and in the 

 busy season will often earn between 4s. and 5s. per day. 



Early supplies from February to March will average 6d. per 

 dozen bunches ; from then on to the first week in June, when 

 the supplies from these districts cease, the average may be 

 taken at ^d. Several growers with whom I am acquainted give 

 their average for the season at between 25s. and 30s. per 

 100 dozen bunches after deducting carriage, salesmen's com- 

 mission, and sundry incidental expenses. 



Some years ago large profits were derived from watercress 

 by cultivators in these districts ; but of late years other 

 competitors have entered the arena, and the demand has not 

 increased. Even now, however, a profit of £50 may be made 

 from 1 acre of watercress beds where the water is supplied from 

 natural springs. The still waters are not used so much for 

 cultivation as in past years, and many have been condemned. 

 It is worth remembering that in addition to the actual work 

 during the height of the season, an acre of watercress beds will 

 provide quite sufficient employment for a man throughout the 

 dull season of the year in repairing and making the beds. 



Market Gardening. — I have been informed by several 

 market growers in the vicinity of the larger towns, that 

 if they had no flowers they would experience some difficulty 

 in making their holdings pay. It is rarely that one meets 

 with market gardens in the county where the ground is rented 

 exclusively for the cultivation of flowers, although in the 

 neighbourhood of Portchester, which is some six miles from 

 Portsmouth, a large acreage is devoted to flowers, particularly 

 violets. 



Much of the soil in this locality, especially that on the 

 southern slopes of the Portsmouth Down hills, and close to the 

 sea, is extremely fertile. The average rent here is £4. per 

 acre, but in a few exceptional cases as much as £10 per acre is 

 paid. The price of land when obtainable is, on an average, 

 about £150 per acre. One man I happened to meet 

 informed me that he was able to support his wife and self on 

 z\ acres of ground, which he rented at £10 per acre ; not 

 having sufficient means to keep a horse and cart, his produce 



