LIFE ON A SMALL HOLDING.*
THE author of this thoughtful and practical little book, who is, we believe, one of the occupants of land on the estate of the Small Holdings Association at Newdigate, writes on the strength not only of his own but of his neighbours' experience in trying to make a living on a small plot of land. The living is being made all over the country, but no one who reads The Small Holding can surely remain in doubt as to the onerous nature of the task. To the difficulties of managing the holding and its stock to the best advantage, which can only be overcome by long experience, are added those of getting remunerative prices for the live and dead produce. It has ordinarily to be taken some distance to market, and when there are dealers' " rings " or a glut —Mr. Green gives actual cases—it may be necessary to bring it back again. The remedy is, of course, co-operation, as every one who notices how on the Continent the peasant- farmers cope with the middleman realises at once. Fifty pages of Mr. Green's book are usefully devoted to a simply written explanation of bow the would-be small holder can best obtain, capitalise, and work his land co-operatively, and sell what he raises on the same common-sense methods. Seed peas cost a small holder 2s. a quart, but by buying by the bushel the price is 8d. ; and basic slag, for a hundredweight of which 6s. would be charged, can be got at just half the price if bought by the ton. The author gives what seems to be on the whole sound counsel as to the stocking and manage- ment of twenty-five acres of grass-land, rented, he assumes, at about 30s. an acre, " with watering facilities and security of tenure." Three acres he would break up for fruit, vegetables, and cattle crops. The remaining twenty-two he would divide into three fields for haying and for pasturage. The cost of a cottage—there are plans for cottages from £135 upwards—dairy, shedding for cows, calves, and pigs, &c., tanks, bins, with £11 worth of tools, is put down at £325. Five cows, a breeding sow, bees, and turkeys are estimated to cost £93. The expense involved in buying stock, trees, and seeds, and enough money to live on "for at least the first six months," are of course to be added. Although Mr. Green goes fully into the methods of profitable milk and butter production, he realises the advantage enjoyed by the small holder who devotes himself to raising stores, and that in the hands of the novice breeding sows may bring in more money than cows. He believes in green gooseberries, bees, and "Indian Runner " ducks, but is under no illusions about hens. As to labour, he thinks twenty-five acres are beyond the strength of one man.
The author's photographs are a serviceable feature of the book. In a new edition he might suggest that the small holder might sterilise his fruit when there does not seem to be a good market for it, and should note that the difficulty of • 171. Asa Holding. By P. E. Green. London : John Lime. De. net.]
getting tenants for large farms to which he refers does not exist all over the country.
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