THE HOMECROFT POLICY.
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—I am very glad to read that the Spectator will carry out a homecroft trial, to settle just what amount of foodstuff can be raised upon a limited area of land, in accord with Professor Scott's ideas, and I shall be happy to subscribe to the fund when the time comes. The only point upon which there is a difference of opinion is the area of land required. This, after all, must be regulated by the time the worker can give to it : he cannot serve two masters at the same time, and if he takes " time off " his town job it will soon leave him. Professor Scott mentions a settlement scheme in Ohio ; even in that mild climate I notice that the family area is " one acre " with a share in a common pasture.
Professor Scott's one-third acre, after allowing, say, thirteen rods for the house, yard, &c., leaves about forty rods for cultivation. As Mr. Hughesdon shows, much may be garnered off this area ; possibly it is as much as a city worker can cultivate, enough perhaps to keep the wolf from the door, for a time, anyhow. I think that on " one " acre a pig might be kept and fed upon the small potatoes and garden stuff, and topped off with purchased corn ; also some fruit trees might be planted, though it must be remembered that every full grown tree sterilizes perhaps a rod of ground around it. On one and a-half acres probably all Professor Scott's ideals could be achieved—two pigs, two milking goats, chickens, &c. If the area he took was too large for a beginner, he could temporarily let some of his land on shares. When a £450 house is bought, an extra acre is no great addition to the price. However, a Spectator trial would throw light upon all these problems and turn speculation into an accom- plished fact.—I am, Sir, &c., KYNMON.
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