202 The Northern Allotment Society. [july, 



THE NORTHERN ALLOTMENT SOCIETY. 



This Society was established at Newcastle-on-Tyne on the 

 2 ist May, 1890. Its formation was the outcome of a series of 

 public meetings held in the town and district with the object of 

 furthering the growth of fruit and flowers and the cultivation 

 of small holdings. These gatherings brought a number of 

 people of similar aims into contact with each other, who, in 

 turn, found it expedient to combine for the attainment of the 

 objects they had in common. These objects were of a two-fold 

 character, educational and practical ; in other words, the Society 

 which they then founded sought to extend a knowledge of the 

 subject and to provide its members with facilities for reducing 

 their knowledge to practice. 



In order that no one should be debarred, membership of the 

 Society was left open to the public upon one condition only — 

 namely, that each member should subscribe to its funds a sum 

 of one shilling per annum. The money thus obtained was 

 applied to the outlay upon printing, postage and incidental 

 items incurred by its officials. Apart from this condition, the 

 Society, as a Society, has had no rules. Its officers consisted 

 eventually of a Committee numbering twenty members, a 

 Treasurer, and a Secretary, chosen from time to time, all of 

 whom acted in an honorary capacity. 



The Society has been instrumental in obtaining about thirteen 

 acres of land in Newcastle, forming part of the Town Moor, 

 upon lease, since converted into 144 allotments ; has aided 

 similar undertakings in the district from time to time, and 

 founded a Bee-Keepers' Association, but its principal service has 

 been to enable its members not merely to procure land in small 

 quantities, which they could not do single-handed, but to procure 

 it at a wholesale price. In discharging this service, its procedure 

 has been of the simplest character. If at any time the officials 

 learnt that an eligible estate was on the market either by public 

 or private treaty, they took steps to have it considered and, if 

 need be, inspected by the Committee, who, in turn, decided 

 either that it was not suitable for the purpose of the Society, or 

 that the matter should be placed before a meeting of the 

 members for their consideration. 



