42S 
FIELD GARDENING FOR 
ing portion for subsistence ; and though the 
poor man may fancy that he would be better 
off were he to be placed in a situation for 
himself, and independent, as he might think, 
of his superiors, the probability is that he 
would soon have to repent of the change. If 
his behaviour be good, his situation under 
them is almost certain, and free from the 
harassing anxiety of a person thrown on his 
own resources ; and what has chiefly to do 
with the present question is, that if he can 
have an allotment of land in connexion with 
such dependence, it is for the labourer, in most 
cases, safer, more satisfactory, and more likely 
to stand the test of years, than any other mode 
of obtaining a livelihood. 
At the same time, it is well known to those 
who have paid minute attention to the working 
of allotments, that even under the plan here 
recommended, viz. allotments in connexion 
with ordinary employment, an injurious system 
has been practised, alike hurtful to the poor 
labourers and to the spread of a really bene- 
ficial measure for ameliorating their condition. 
For example, at Stoke-Holy-Cross, about 
four miles from the city of Norwich, is a 
group of allotments, let to agricultural labour- 
ers residing in the village of Stoke. The 
land is close to their dwellings, so that no time 
is lost in walking to it, or in carting manure, 
&c. ; yet here the system has proved a com- 
plete failure, the holders complaining that 
they can make nothing of it. The land 
belongs to a wealthy gentleman residing in 
Norwich, and is let by him on a different 
footing to any other allotments I am acquainted 
with in this part of the country; the landlord 
making the best bargain he can with the 
holders, and imposing no restrictions either as 
to the quantity or the mode in which the land 
is to be cultivated. The soil is rather poor, 
resting on a subsoil of gravel, and had been 
previously rented by a farmer who was obliged 
to give it up. It is let at the rate of 31. per 
acre, which is much more than that paid by 
farmers for good land in the neighbourhood. 
The extent of ground thus occupied is ten 
acres. The failure has a very distressing effect 
on the minds of the holders, who, having 
tried what they considered would have turned 
out to be a benefit to them, and being so un- 
successful, are in a state of despondency and 
concern for the future which I hope is not 
experienced elsewhere. Now, in the adjoin- 
ing parish to the foregoing are thirty-four 
allotments, conducted in the best possible way, 
the extent of soil being apportioned strictly 
with reference to the numbers able to work in 
a family. These are situated in the village of 
Shotesham, about six miles from Norwich, the 
property of Robert Fellowes, Esq. The Allot- 
ment System was introduced here ten years 
since, and it has been extended every subse- 
quent year. Its effects in this quarter have 
been very striking, raising the holders to a 
sort of independency. Vnrio is causes have 
contributed to this end ; but I think one of 
the chief reasons is to be found in the discri- 
mination of Mr. Batemaro, the land-agent, who 
manages the estates of Mr. Fellowes. First of 
all, there were but very few granted about the 
year 1835, when first introduced here; and 
those were given to men easer to have an op- 
portunity of helping themselves after their regu- 
lar day's work was over. At that time they had 
but a small space, which has since been aug- 
mented according to the industry and activity 
of the respective holders. The consequence 
is, that no individual among the thirty-four 
allottees has a yard more than he can keep in 
the highest state of cultivation. Secondly, 
the land is good ; and what is of great import- 
ance, it is in almost every case close to the 
respective cottages, so that a loss of time, or 
loss of strength, or loss of assistance, is not 
experienced. By loss of assistance is meant 
the loss which every holder of an allotment at 
a distance experiences in not having his wife, 
or, it maybe, his daughter, at all times to help 
him ; for when an allotment is at the door, 
those members of a family are of the greatest 
service in assisting him. Thirdly, they are 
let at a fair rent — 21. per acre — free from all 
burdens, being such land as a farmer would 
pay 30*. for, subject to the usual outgoings. 
Lastly, Mr. Bateman takes unceasing interest 
in the working of the system, which operates 
as an encouragement to the holders in having 
their pieces of land at all times in the best 
ordeiv Under such circumstances the system 
has worked here as well as it can be expected 
to do anywhere. It has taken the poor man 
out of the ranks of pauperism, and placed him 
in comparatively comfortable circumstances, 
with brightening prospects before him. Those 
men who formerly could not pay their cottage 
rents, have, with the aid of the allotments, 
ever since paid both house-rent and allotment- 
rent, at the proper time, without one shilling 
being lost ; and I am proud to have an oppor- 
tunity of referring to those men who have so 
distinguished themselves by their industrious 
habits, and shown to the world the way by 
which the British labourer may be raised from 
his present condition. The last time I was in 
the village, I asked a man on the road if he con- 
sidered the Allotment Sj'stem to be a benefit 
to the holders, who himself happened to be one. 
" A benefit ! " he said ; " why, I should not 
be able to go on without mine ; it is every- 
thing — a benefit, indeed ! " I should occupy 
too much space were I to follow all the indi- 
viduals in giving their details connected with 
the change which the system has wrought in 
