JOURNAL 
OF THE 
ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY 
OF ENGLAND. 
ALLOTMENTS AND SMALL HOLDINGS. 
Contents. 
INTRODUCTION 439 
NUMBER OF ALLOTMENTS IN GREAT BRITAIN 439 
NUMBER AND ACREAGE OP SMALL HOLDINGS IN GREAT BRITAIN . 443 
THE ROTHAMSTED ALLOTMENTS ........ 4.51 
CONDITIONS ESSENTIAL TO THE SUCCESS OF SMALL HOLDINGS . . 452 
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS 459 
The passing of tlie Allotments Acts of 1887 and of 1890, and 
of the Small Holdings Act of 1892, is evidence of the public 
interest taken in recent years in the position and future pro- 
spects of the working classes generally, and especially of the 
agricultural labourer. Stated in a few words, the object of the 
first two of these measures is to facilitate the acquirement of 
areas not exceeding one acre, mainly, therefore, for the provision 
of what may be called garden allotments as distinguished from 
small agricultural holdings. The object of the more recent 
measure is, on the other hand, to facilitate the acquirement of 
areas of more than one, and not exceeding fifty acres, that is, 
for the acquirement of small farms. 
Number of Allotments in Great Britain. 
For many years prior to 1887, the system of granting 
garden allotments to agricultural labourers, and to others of our 
rural populations, had been established, and it had been gradu- 
ally extending from year to year. Official returns showing 
the number of allotments granted from the date of the passing 
VOL. m. T. s. — 11 I I 
