98 OLD-FASHIONED GARDENING 
Village plots granted to the Colonists in the begin¬ 
ning were small, as was usual in village communities 
in England. In 1637 the place belonging to Mr. 
Roger Conant which was bought by the town for “old 
Mr. Plase & wife” consisted of but half an acre. Yet 
Conant was director of the Colony prior to Endicott’s 
arrival, and continued always prominent and highly 
regarded. The size of his home lot may therefore 
very reasonably be assumed to be a maximum allot¬ 
ment. No one would be likely to have any more 
land than he; the greater number would probably 
have less. The requirements which regulated the size 
of the plot were that it should afford room for the 
dwelling and dooryard, the outbuildings, and the gar¬ 
den, with perhaps a space for corn. No one needed 
more than this—so none was allowed to have it. For 
broader agricultural purposes there were common 
fields, held by several together. In 1640 there were 
in Salem ten groups of these associated proprietors 
living in the town, who fenced their fields outside 
the settlement in common. Fence “viewers,” ap¬ 
pointed in town meeting, looked after these com¬ 
munity enclosures, each field having its special com¬ 
mittee. 
More generous ideas seem to have prevailed, how¬ 
ever, when Charlestown was under consideration by 
Governor Winthrop, as the site of the “great towne” 
