Allotments and Small Holdings. 
451 
Extent in Great Britain as to justify the expectation that the 
establishment of large numbers of them throughout the country 
will bring about the beneficial results, and especially the stem- 
ming of the migration of the population from the country to the 
towns, which seem to be anticipated by those who advocate a 
considerable extension of them. 
The Rotiiamsted Allotments. 
It is now about forty years since from eight to ten acres, and 
a few years later about an equal area, were set apart on the 
Rothamsted Estate as garden allotments, for the most part of 
one-eighth of an acre each ; some, however, being less ; the whole 
number of tenants amounting to between 160 and 170. In the 
midst of the allotment ground a club-house was built for the 
members, where they could have their beer and smoke their 
pipes independently of the public-house. The management of 
the gardens and of the club is in the hands of a committee of 
twelve of the members, who are elected annually.' Many of these 
allotments are held by agricultural and other labourers, and it 
is the general opinion that one-eighth of an acre is quite as 
much as a man depending on weekly wages can properly cul- 
tivate. In fact, whilst no demand has been made for larger 
garden allotments, requests have occasionally been made for 
smaller ones, on account of the smallness of the family, or the 
age of the tenant. 
In 1883 nearly 9 acres, and in 1884 about 20 acres, or 
in all nearly 29 acres, were devoted to allotments in another 
part of the parish. Of these, 112 are of one-eighth of an acre 
or less, and 25 are of larger area. There are 23 allotments 
ranging from a quarter of an acre to an acre and a half, and 
these are, for the most part, held by persons of the most varied 
occupations, namely: two carpenters, two publicans, a black- 
smith, two carters, a dealer, a butcher, a coal-dealer, a navvy, 
a platelayer, a market gardener, a groom and gardener, a pen- 
sioner, a bricklayer, a shoemaker, and a general labourer. There 
are also five agricultural labourers, two of whom have, however, 
joined with others. 
In 1890, a notice was put up in the club-room that about 
6 acres adjoining the original garden allotments would be let 
in plots of one acre each, at the ordinary agricultural rent of the 
land ; but not a single agricultural labourer became an applicant 
for one of these lots. 
' See Journal, VoL XIU. (1877), p. 387, “Tbe Rothamsted Allotment Club.” 
By J, Bennet Lawes. 
