434 
FIELD GARDENING FOR 
five children ; I could not think of giving up 
my allotment, as I should soon go into the 
Union House. I should prefer holding my 
land to receiving any allowance statement." 
James Drake, of the same group of allot- 
ments, states, that " he should be without work 
a month in the year if' it were not for his 
land ; he must then apply to the parish. He 
could not pay his rent if it were not for his 
allotment. He has saved his wheat this year 
for that purpose." Unlike other employments, 
allotments form a school in which a labourer 
can train up his children, teaching them that 
which will be required of them in after years. 
They are equivalent to the benefits which a 
Savings' Bank would afford were one planted 
at every one's door. Every spare moment's 
labour is deposited, and whilst some Friendly 
Societies may deceive him, the labourer knows 
well that the soil is faithful, fulfilling to him 
the promise, " as ye sow, so shall ye reap." 
Before closing this part of the subject, I 
shall give a few more instances in which the 
best mode of the allotment system has fallen 
under my observation ; and I am sure that 
no one who reads the following evidence 
attentively, can deny that he who delays 
carrying out such a measure, where needed, 
incurs a very serious responsibility. 
Waterbeach allotments, near Cambridge. 
— These belong to the Rev. Henry Fardell, 
of Wisbeach, a gentleman who has shown 
himself to be sincerely interested in the 
welfare of the poor, and who has taken the 
greatest pains to better the condition of his 
poor parishioners. I am happy to say his 
exertions have been completely successful. 
The allotments here extend over a space of 
thirty-eight acres, forty holders occupying 
half an acre each, and eighteen occupying an 
acre each, the latter being fen land. These 
holdings are let on easy terms, sixteen shil- 
lings being the rent for each of the half acres, 
and twenty shillings the rent for each of the 
acres. The land is alternately planted with 
wheat on one part, and potatoes, onions, and 
other vegetables on the other ; and some of 
those who have acre allotments, and a right 
of common as well, manage to keep a cow 
very easily. In this case, immediately after 
the corn is removed from the ground, part of 
the land is sown with rye and vetches for 
food early in the spring. Towards the latter 
end of April, the green food is removed, and 
potatoes planted in rows three feet distant 
from each other. During the month of June, 
lines of Drumhead cabbages are planted be- 
tween the drills of potatoes, and by the time 
the cabbage-leaves get to their full size, the 
potatoes are fit to be removed, an operation 
which by no means disturbs the roots of the 
cabbages, but serves, as the labourers say, 
to earth them up. So heavy are the crops 
of cabbages thus obtained, that they have 
been sold in the village at the rate of 35/. 
per acre. They are consumed in time to 
allow of the land being planted with wheat, 
which is always done by dibbling. Thus a 
crop of rye and vetches is taken off in April, 
a crop of potatoes in July and August, a 
crop of cabbages in November, and a good 
braird of wheat appears on the land before the 
year is out! To such men, and all who 
witness their operations, the idea of a time 
coming when there shall be more people on 
the earth than can be supplied with food, 
becomes a very harmless and amusing tale. 
These humble allotment holders show clearly 
— recording it every season — what a mighty 
feast Nature is capable of yielding, if the 
elements which she has placed within the 
reach of all were only actively employed. 
Terrington St. Clements. — This -village 
lies in the hundred of Freebridge Marsh- 
land, in the western extremity of the county 
of Norfolk, and is four miles distant from 
the town of Lynn. The allotment system 
was established here in 1817, chiefly through 
the exertions of the late vicar, the Rev. 
Ambrose Goode ; and so successful has been 
the results, that every one in the neighbour- 
hood, including its former enemies and op- 
posers, frankly admit that it has produced 
a very happy change morally and pecuniarily. 
In the first instance, tw,o pieces of land, con- 
taining about twentyefive acres, were rented 
of Lady Frances Bentinck, also a friend to the 
systeni,one of the fields containing twenty-two 
acres, two roods, thirty-nine perches, thebther 
about three acres; and, as soon as it was under- 
stood that the field gardens might be had, 
notice was given that such of the poor pa- 
rishioners as thought they could obtain a 
livelihood by occupying a piece of land in 
connexion with their usual employment, 
should apply for the same to Mr. Goode. """he 
parish authorities forthwith met, undertak g 
to guarantee the rent, and selecting the pro^ir 
persons from the list of applicants. This s< - 
lection was made chiefly with a view to afford 
the means of relief to the most needy ; but 
in a certain measure to try the effects of the 
plan on labourers of different characters. 
Thus, several were selected who had not re- 
ceived parish relief at all, and who had 
brought up large families. Afterwards, those 
were taken who were jbove fifty years of 
age, then such as had ■; ree or more chil- 
dren, including some qf } the worst and most 
troublesome men in thtt parish. They had 
their possession given to them by lot, so that 
even the appearance of undue favour might 
be completely avoided. ' This arrangement 
referred to the larger piece of twenty-two 
