One hundred years ago
The Daily Chronicle of Saturday gives a very interesting account of an experiment in peasant proprietary recently tried in Dorsetshire by Sir Robert Edgcumbe. About seven years ago he bought a farm of three hundred and forty-three acres for £5,050. He then spent money on cut- ting up the farm into twenty-five hold- ings, and in making roads and sinking wells, with the result that his total bill for the land rose to £6,142. The holdings, which varied in size from two acres to thirty-three acres, were then offered to purchasers prepared to pay down one- tenth of the purchase-money, and the remainder in nine equal instalments with interest. To the surprise of every one, there was a flood of applicants, and all the lots were at once disposed of. This was in 1889. But by 1895 all the instal- ments have been cleared off with the exception of £500. The purchasers were of various classes and trades, only eight being agricultural labourers. The amount of labour brought on to the land may explain the success. When in the occupa- tion of the tenant, there were employed upon the land the fanner and three labourers. There are now on the same land twenty-five families and seventy-five persons in all. When the tenant went, the land was lettable at £170 a year. Under petite culture it is worth £313.
The Spectator 29 June 1895
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