100 
The Allotment System. 
the effect of the new Poor Law, which has taught him that his first 
dependence must be on his own exertions ; but a share in that 
improvement around Silsoe must certainly be allowed to the 
allotment svstem as there established. At first the allotment 
tenantry were allowed a considerable extent of land apiece — two 
acres or more. As much, indeed, as they declared their ability to 
manage was allotted to each applicant. But as these have 
gradually fallen in or failed, they have been subdivided ; and 
from a rood to half an acre is now the ordinary extent allowed. 
There have been no restrictions placed upon the cultivators of these 
plots, but such as are also laid upon the farmers of the district. 
There is no formal provision against Sundav labour or against 
immorality, nor are there any special legal securities taken for 
the relapse of the land to the owner in case he should require it. 
Every security, nevertheless, exists as to all these particulars in the 
general sense of propriety which prevails, as well as in the know- 
ledge that sufficient power exists in the management to enforce it. 
On riding round these allotments late in May this year, I saw 
poppies, turnip-seed, onions, peas, and cabbages, in some cases 
grown to a large extent ; but the ordinary crops were wheat antl 
potatoes for home consumption. In a few instances the land is 
in the hands of market-gardeners ; but, as a general rule, the 
allotments are occupied by agricultural and other labourers ; and 
the following table, extracted from Mr. Trethewy's paper, gives 
their extent and their number in the several parishes, together 
with interesting details regarding parochial rates since the period 
of their establishment: — 
Parisb. 
Popu- 
lation 
per 
censns 
of 
I80I. 
Area 
of 
Pa- 
rishes. 
Num- 
ber of 
Allot- 
ments. 
Acre- 
aRe of 
Allot- 
ment 
Annual Average 
of Five Years' 
Parochial Pates 
to Lady Day. 
Parochial Rates for 
the Years 
Land. 
1858. 
1848. 
1828. 
1833. 
1835. 
1838. 
Pulloxhill .... 
Upper Gravenhurst . . 
Loner Graveutiurst . . 
im 
337 
58 
Acres. 
2067 
3317 
1020 
1584 
73 
180 
163 
131 
66 
Acres. 
24 
55 
14U 
51 
24 
5. d. 
2 lo^ = -J 
4 i\t% 
3 2(3 
4 4| = | 
2 ©; = £ 
d. 
■2 3 
4 0 
4 10 
3 6 
4 3 
2 1 
,5. d. 
7 5 
7 4 
13 U 
11 0 
7 0 
2 0 
.5. d. 
5 6 
6 9 
9 0 
12 0 
5 6 
2 0 
<i. 
3 3 
3 4 
6 0 
6 0 
3 2 
1 0 
f. cf. 
2 S 
4 9 
4 0 
3 8 
4 10 
2 10 
61ij 
294 
I conclude with Mr. Trethewy's statement of the superiority 
of these clustered field-gardens over detached cottage-gardens, 
and of the advantages of encouraging rivalry by an annual judg- 
ment of cultivation and exhibition of produce : — 
"(1) Every man has the atlvantagc of the experience of the whole field, and 
pcnoially benefits by it ; wliercas in a garden there are not those oi)ix)rtiinitie.s. 
(2) How fr>.'(iucntly does one sec a garden overrun witli weeds, overgrown with 
