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JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Mac.h 3, 1992. 
There was once a popular style of flower gardening, known as 
the “ribbon system,’’ because composed of lines of flowers each 
of one kind and colour. Around Epworth we may see the ribbon 
system of farming, as long strips of distinct colours, stretching 
from the valleys up the gentle hillsides almost as far as the eye 
can see ; the light streaks are stubble, the dark ones between them 
vacant land, from which, perhaps, early Potatoes have been 
dug ; then we have the bright green of Mangold Wurzels, the 
bluish green of Swedes, the brownish hue of late Potatoes, with 
the black-and-white streaks between—the general effect being 
wholly different from that which is commonly seen in agricultural 
districts. And what of the people ? Possibly a more generally 
well-to-do, satisfied, more comfortably housed, and orderly com¬ 
munity would be hard to find. We find a sturdy hospitable race of 
workers, not made by Act of Parliament, but born to the custom 
that has prevailed for generations, if not for centuries. 
In respect to the produce from these small holdings as com¬ 
pared with the food raised on an equal extent of land in large 
farms, Mr. Standring has no hesitation in saying that there is 
a larger amount of grain, at least an equal amount of beef, a 
much larger quantity of pork or bacon, also vegetables, but a 
smaller quantity of mutton, as small holdings are not adapted to 
sheep walks. When he was asked to give evidence before a 
Committee of the House of Commons on the question of allot¬ 
ments, he called a meeting of men who had been in possession of 
from 1 to 2 acres of land each for a few years, and after hearing 
what the men had to say he suggested they should sign a paper, 
which they readily did. It was to the effect that before having 
the allotments they had a dread of a long frost in each winter 
throwing them out of work, and causing much privation and 
possibly temporary pauperism ; but since they had the land they 
had grown half an acre each of Wheat, Barley, and roots, which 
had produced them bread, bacon, and Potatoes for the winter, and 
in some cases for the greater part of the year, at little cost. They 
could work that quantity of land in slack times for wage labour, 
and were altogether better by its acquisition, while farmers had 
not to pay any advance in the wage rate. With such useful 
plots of land men do not wander far from their homes, and 
there are always sufficient to engage in work and for others 
at moderate wages ; it is when men are really scarce that wages 
rise, and then the needed work does not get done, and land 
owners and farmers suffer in consequence. 
The real cause of much land depreciation in the past can be 
traced to the lack of capital to supply the requisite labour in 
working and clearing, as well as in affording adequate fertility 
for the production of full crops. Both large farms and small 
allotments have been ruined by exhaustion, and in increasing the 
number of small holdings a chief danger will be in men investing 
every penny in purchasing the land. Those will act the most 
wisely who limit their obligations in that respect by taking care 
to have a reasonable amount of capital for working, or they will 
run the risk of being in bondage all their lives. The Bill provides 
for the renting as well as the purchase of land, and a sound and 
safe system of tenancy may in many cases be the wiser course. A 
widespread desire exists to help those workers in rural districts 
to improve their condition in life, and an important question to 
be determined is the mode in which the laudable object in 
view can be attained. Perhaps some of our readers may have 
ideas on the subject. The Bill referred to is of such great 
moment that we append the following digest as it appeared in 
the Times of last Saturday. 
THE SMALL AGRICULTURAL HOLDINGS BILL. 
Mr. Chaplin’s Bill sets out with directing that, if any County 
Council are of opinion that there is such a demand for small holdings 
for the labouring population of their county as justifies them in putting 
the Bill into operation, the Council may acquire any suitable land for 
the purpose of providing small holdings. Those for whom provision may 
thus be made must be persons who are resident in the county and desire 
to buy and will themselves cultivate the holdings. With regard to the 
size of a holding, it must be between 1 acre and 50 acres, or, if it is 
larger, its annual value for income-tax purposes must not exceed £50. 
The land must appear to the Council to be suitab’e for agriculture. For 
the purpose of purchase, the Land Clauses Acts are incorporated with 
the Bill, except the provisions with respect to the purchase and taking 
of land otherwise than by agreement. As was specially objected by 
the Opposition, the principle of compulsion is not adopted. 
When a County Council have bought land, they may before selling it 
again adapt it for small holdings by dividing and fencing it, making 
occupation roads, and executing any other works, such as works for the 
provision of drainage or water supply, w'hich can in their opinion be 
more ecopomically and efficiently executed for the land as a whole. 
The Council may also, if they think fit, as part of the agreement for the 
sale and letting of a small holdin?, adapt the land for a sma'd holding 
by erecting on it such buildings, or by mahing such adaptations of 
existing buildings, as in their opinion are required for the due occupation 
of the holding, and cannot be made by the purchaser or tenant. 
With regard to sale, the County Council are directed in the third 
clause to apportion the total cost of the acquisition of the land and of 
any adaptation of it among the several holdings in such manner as 
seems just. This cost is to include every expense incurred by the 
Council in relation to the land, inclusive of any allowance to any officers 
of the Council for work done in relation thereto. The Council are then 
to offer the small holdings for sale in accordance with “ rules ” to be 
made under the Bill. Where, however, the Council are of opinion that 
any persons desirous of buying and themselves cultivating are unable to 
buy on the terms fixed by the Bill, but will be able if they are permitted 
to occupy in the first instance as tenants, the Council may, instead of 
offering the holding for sale, offer to let it in accordance with rules 
under the Bill. In the case of letting, however, the size of the holding 
is restricted to 10 acres. 
The fourth section provides that any County Council may, and every 
County Council not being a Council of a county borough is bound to 
appoint a committee to consider whether the circumstances of the county 
justify them in putting the Bill into operation. Power is given to any 
one or more county electors to present a petition to their Council, 
alleging that there is a demand for small holdings in the county, and 
praying that the Bill be put into operation. Thereupon the petition is 
to be referred to a Committee, and on being satisfied that it is presented 
in good faith and on reasonable grounds they must forthwith cause an 
inquiry into the circumstances to be made, and the result is to be 
reported to the Council. 
With regard to the purchase money of a holding, it is to include all 
costs of conveyance, but not any expense incurred by the purchaser for 
legal or other advice or assistance. The time within which the purchase 
is to be completed is to be fixed by the rules, but it is to be not less 
than a month after the purchase. On such completion not less than 
one-fourth of the purchase money must be paid by the buyer. A portion 
representing not more than a fourth may, if the Council think fit, be 
secured by a perpetual rent charge, which is to be redeemable by the 
landowner at an amount to be fixed by the Land Commissioners. The 
residue of the purchase money is to be secured by a charge on the 
holding in favour of the Council, and is to be repaid by half-yearly 
instalments, with such interest and within such term not exceeding fifty 
years as may be agreed on with the Council. Should the purchaser so 
require, it is to be repaid by a terminable annuity payable by equal half- 
yearly instalments. The amount for the time being unpaid may be 
discharged at any time in accordance with tables to be fixed by the 
Council. If the Council think fit, they may agree to postpone for five 
years or less the time for payment of all or any part of an instalment, 
either of principal or interest or of a terminable annuity, in considera¬ 
tion of expenditure by the purchaser which, in the opinion of the 
Council, increases the value of the holding. But this must be done on 
such terms as will prevent the Council from incurring any loss. The 
title of the purchaser is to be guaranteed by the Council, and the 
remedy of any person claiming by title paramount is to be in damages 
only. However, a holding may be sold subject to such rights of way or 
other rights for the benefit of other small holdings as the Council 
consider necessary or expedient. 
The County Council are to make “ rules ” for carrying the Bill into 
effect. In particular, there are to be rules (1) as to the manner in 
which holdings are to be sold or let or offered for sale or letting ; (2) 
As to the notice to be given of the offer for sale or letting ; and (3) For 
guarding against any small holdings being let or sold to a person who is 
unable to cultivate it properly, and otherwise for securing the proper 
cultivation of a holding. 
The following conditions are imposed by Clause 7 with respect to 
every small holding thus sold by a County Council for ten years from the 
date of sale, and thereafter, so long as any part of the purchase money 
remains unpaid :—(1) Any periodical payments due in respect of the 
purchase money must be duly paid ; (2) the holding must be cultivated 
by the owner, and must not be used for any purpose other than agricul¬ 
ture ; (3) it must not be subdivided or let without the consent of the 
County Council ; (4) not more than one dwelling house may be erected 
on a holding, and no dwelling house may be erected where the annual 
value for the purposes of income tax does not exceed £25, unless the 
holding appears to the Council sufficient to enable the occupier to main¬ 
tain in comfort himself and his family by the cultivation thereof; 
(6) any dwelling house erected on the holding must comply with such 
requirements as the Council may impose for securing healthiness and 
