ALLOTMENTS.
[TO 70. EI0708 07 7H. amiemmal Sat,—Fourteen years ago, I was the Rector of a country parish containing 320 souls. On going into residence, I found that six acres of the glebe adjoining the rectory garden had been assigned by my predecessor in allotments for the labourers. The soil was such that with ordinary good management, any crop was certain to thrive. These allotments were conveniently close to the village ; but as the sub-soil was gravel, I sunk a well in the middle of them, so that the poor people might have a supply of water always at hand. On one occasion I took stock with one of my poor tenants when all was gathered in, and from the bit of land for which he paid me 12s. rent, he realised a clear profit of £4. I should add that he was over sixty years of age, and was obliged by rheumatism to pay for the "heavy" work on his bit of land. This shows what may be done with an allotment; what is done is, very often, quite another matter. There was a fair proportion of my poor tenants who, through bad management, did not clear 108. Let me add another fact. I once asked the best labourer in the parish how much land he could turn to advantage without giving up his work as a farm labourer. He replied, without hesitating,—" Not more than half-an-acre."—I am, Sir, &c., W. M. H. C. P.S.—The man whose success I have quoted held a double allotment; some of the labourers did not care to have them.
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