1908.] 



Small Holdings in Lancashire. 



563 



quite a successful class of men. They worked for farmers 

 in the neighbourhood, and in addition to keeping a cow and 

 pigs, they secured a fair income from the cultivation of early 

 potatoes and onions. 



System of early potato growing formerly practised. — Con- 

 siderable quantities of early potatoes were grown by these 

 men upon a system which is now only of historical interest. 

 The ground was laid out in plots 9 ft. wide surrounded by 

 banks of turves about 15 in. high. Each year the plots were 

 dug, manured with dung, and well prepared by means of 

 hand labour, and were then planted with sprouted potatoes 

 about 9 in. apart each way. During the early stages of 

 growth the potatoes were protected by means of screens, made 

 of straw and strengthened with sticks or small branches 

 which were supported by the turf banks and three light 

 structures of wood, a higher one down the middle of the 

 plot, and a lower one on each side. The screens, which thus 

 formed a sloping roof on each side of the plot, were removed 

 during the day, except in bad weather, and replaced at night 

 until there was no longer danger of frost. High prices were 

 regularly realised for the early crops grown in this way, 

 frequently as much as is. per lb. at the commencement of the 

 season. 



Onion cultivation. — The cultivation of onions was not confined 

 to the small holdings. A partnership was arranged between the 

 small holder and a neighbouring farmer ; the former supplied 

 labour and seeds while the latter furnished land and manure 

 and did the hauling. The crop was divided equally between 

 them at harvest time. Many farms had 10 or 12 acres of onions, 

 and the arrangement was found profitable to both parties. 

 It may be observed that in the cultivation of both the early 

 potato crop and the onion crop, when planting was accomplished, 

 practically the whole of the remaining labour was of a light 

 character, hoeing and weeding, and was performed mainly 

 by the wife and children of the small holder. Children were 

 engaged in this work at an age at which they must now be 

 in attendance at school. 



Small farms.-— The system of cropping the small holdings in 

 this district, which it has already been stated are mostly about 

 40 acres in area, is similar to that adopted on the larger farms in 



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