Full Rods
That absurdly English unit of area, the rod, pole or perch, retains its full popularity in rural England. It makes a notable appearance in the admirable scheme for the higher production of vegetables, set on foot by the Women's Institutes. By a patriotic arrangement with Messrs. Sutton any member of the Institute can buy for half a crown enough seed of the best standard vegetables to satisfy a full square rod, pole or perch of ground—that is 3o.'; square yards, or one i6oth of an acre, which is one cricket pitch by ten! How marvellous are English measures! If the idea is widely adopted within the Institutes, the addition to the national food supply will make even farmers open their eyes. The trouble lies in distribution. The family that fills an extra rod with vegetables will have more than enough for home consumption. How is the sur- plus to be marketed? A fair number of the Institutes have stalls in the market of the country town, and these are a success ; but do not benefit the majority of villagers in remoter parishes. The local greengrocer, to the disadvantage of the stomachs of his clients, usually insists on selling stale vege- tables from Covent Garden or some other central market. A general scheme for marketing such crops is needed. It would be of value to the bigger country house where the waste is usually great, as well as to the poorer householder.
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