382 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
be many applicants from a big city anxious to grow their own supplies 
who would be totally ignorant of the proper way to dig and cultivate 
a plot. This scheme has worked remarkably well, and I think I am 
perfectly safe in saying that out of this large number of new plots 
(many in the hands of inexperienced people) not one per cent, can be 
found improperly cultivated. This, I think, shows the necessity of 
providing for this kind of cultivation in the future, and I suggest the. 
question of the provision of suitable land for allotments after the 
termination of the War is a subject that will have to be seriously con- 
sidered by Municipal Authorities throughout the country, but more 
especially by those of large cities and towns. 
It has been stated by some well-known authorities that the demand 
may probably decrease after two or three years, as for instance in the 
case of Croydon, where a large number of allotments were demanded 
and provided about twelve years ago and which gradually fell out of 
cultivation, so much so that at the present time these plots are lying 
idle ; but I should like to point out that the necessity for growing food 
in these islands twelve years ago was not comparable to the needs of 
the present day. At that time and for some years after, so much food 
was imported and home-grown stuffs could be obtained so cheaply 
that individuals were not inclined to cultivate their own ; but, at the 
present time, the need for reducing the imports and increasing the 
food supply in our own country is of paramount importance, and in 
my opinion this need will continue, not only for the duration of the 
War, but for some years after, owing to the great shortage of transport. 
Again, the great benefits that are being derived by the plot-holders, 
not only by supplying their own wants with fresh vegetables and fruits, 
but also to their general health, will not be readily forgone; and I 
submit, therefore, this provision is one that should be taken in hand at 
once, so that, when the present War Allotments are required for building 
purposes immediately the ground is released by the Board of Agriculture, 
Municipal Authorities should be in such a position that they will be 
able to transfer the holders to other suitable land that will be held 
permanently for this purpose. 
How can this be arranged ? 
Many Municipal Authorities now have certain powers given them 
by the Local Government Board under the Town Planning schemes, 
and I suggest that, when the plans for these schemes are being prepared, 
certain areas of land should be obtained in each district for the provision 
of allotments. I think a reasonable amount should be not less than 
twenty acres for every thousand houses to be erected, and these 
plots should be in such a position as to be easily accessible. This 
will provide a plot of 300 sq. yds. for each fourth house only, and it 
may be argued that under the Town Planning there will be adequate 
ground provided for each house, but I am of opinion that such ground 
will be more often used for the cultivation of flowers and lawns 
than for food production, and that such areas for vegetable-growing 
as I have suggested would be eagerly taken up. 
