The farm just sold at £4 10s. an acre was
known at one time as good land ; but land of this sort of goodness is no longer of value anywhere. It answers to the general description of wheat and bean land ; and nowhere in the world have I es er seen such heavy crops of beans as farmers once grew there. The plant flourishes in heavy clay ; and clay has a double quality, has compensating virtues and vices. It contains every mineral that plants require, but it is difficult to work ; and now that the labour bill is of overmastering importance the mechanical drawbacks more than outweigh the chemical virtues. Yet when all is considered £4 10s. an acre for house and land between Peterborough and London makes an econo- mic portent. A critic—not without a certain grim humour— said it ought to be advertised as good building land its clay would make admirable bricks !
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