The Farming of Cheshire. 
97 
very satisfactory in its results, and those results being attainable 
without any pecuniary sacrifice, and I believe entirely free from 
any objection whatever — should not at once have received the most 
cordial and universal support of every well-wisher of the commu- 
nity. I have made upwards of a hundred of these allotments, 
varying from a quarter of a statute acre to an acre ; but I gene- 
rally confined them to quarter and half acres, according to the 
capability of the cottager and the size of his family, charging them 
the same rent as a farmer would be able to pay, and it is quite 
surprising to see the quantity of produce that is raised from this 
small quantity of land ; and in order to show what may be done 
by spade husbandry I will mention some facts which have come 
under my own observation. About three years ago I selected two 
pieces of land, together about 30 statute acres, from a farm of 
Lord Crewe's, which land had been very hard tilled, and lying 
more than a mile from the homestead, had not for many years 
received any support in the way of manure, besides which it was 
naturally a weak light soil, with a bad subsoil ; and so little did the 
tenant prize it, that he said 1 was quite welcome to take it from 
the farm if I would release him from the rates and taxes paid in 
respect of it, and make any deduction from his rent I might think 
proper : this I did to his satisfaction, and set it out in proper 
allotments, averaging about half an acre each. I allowed the poor 
men draining shells, which they put down themselves under my 
directions, and charged them as much rent as was just sufficient 
to cover the rent formerly paid by the farmer, together with all 
levies, tithe, rent- charge, &c., and although the land has only 
undergcme this superior method of cultivation for three years, and 
was in the lowest condition to commence with, and consequently 
will improve for years to come ; yet notwithstanding these dis- 
advantages the crops grown upon these 30 acres of poor land last 
summer, were as follows : — 1497 measures of potatoes, 298 mea- 
sures of wheat, 22 measures of barley, 10 measures of vetches, 
and 70 measures of oats ; which crops, after paying the rent, poor 
rates, tithe, and all other charges, amount to nearly 250Z., even 
calculating them at the present low prices of agricultural produce. 
It is. therefore, impossible that this amount of produce could be 
distributed amongst these poor men without adding greatly to the 
comfort of themselves and their families ; besides which all these 
necessaries of life were procured bv the application of those 
leisure hours which would, most likely, have been spent in the 
beer-house, and might have produced the bitter pains of domestic 
strife and wretchedness, instead of making the cottage a peaceful 
and happy home, and the allotment a healthy training-school for 
the children. I am extensively concerned in the management of 
cottage property, and necessarily come in contact with some hunt 
VOL. v. H 
