Small Holdings in Surrey. 



[APRIL, 



" Small Holdings Association," with the object of increasing 

 the number of small working owners by the purchase of land 

 in large areas and its sale in smaller lots. The keystone of 

 the proposal as stated in the Company's prospectus, was the 

 safe investment of the subscribed capital in land, and other 

 real property, with a view to the sub-division and sale or hire 

 of the estates acquired to carefully selected men upon 

 conditions which, while providing them with liberal facilities 

 for obtaining small holdings, will insure the shareholders a 

 fair interest on their capital. Buyers were to pay down at 

 least 10 per cent, of the purchase money, and the balance 

 with interest, by half-yearly instalments. The Company 

 undertook to provide roads and fences, and make other 

 improvements, and to build houses for those who were 

 prepared to deposit 25 per cent, of the cost and pay off the 

 balance in the same way. 



It was proposed to establish a system of co-operation, both 

 in buying and selling. With these objects in view, the 

 Company purchased at Newdigate a farm of 367 acres, known 

 as the Cudworth Estate, at a price which, including a farm 

 house and homestead, worked out at £\2 5s. per acre, 

 exclusive of the timber, valued at about ;£ 1,200, the tithe rent 

 charge being about ^32 per annum. After setting aside a 

 sum for a reserve fund and payment of a cumulative dividend 

 of 5 per cent, per annum, the balance of the net profits was 

 to be applied for the benefit of the small holders, or to further 

 in any other way the objects of the Company. Most of the 

 land was sold during the first year or two in lots of from 

 1 to 30 acres in extent, to about 30 or 40 purchasers, at 

 prices of from ^25 to £30 an acre for sites having a frontage 

 to the roads, and £13 per acre for some back land. Of the 

 purchasers, the majority are men of middle age, who have 

 been engaged in trade or business in London and elsewhere, 

 and who for pleasure or health's sake, have been tempted to 

 try a country life. The holdings are variously cultivated, and 

 are used for growing market produce, nursery stock, fruit and 

 flowers, for rearing poultry and other stock, which are mostly 

 sold locally, or in Redhill and Reigate. 



One of the most successful of the original holders 

 occupying 30 acres devotes himself to dairy work, having 



