ALLOTMENTS, PEASANT-PROPRIETORS, AND CO.OPERATIVE FARMING.
LTO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.".1 SIR,-1 have been for some years a constant reader of the Spectator, seldom agreeing with its political views, but highly appreciating what appears to me its ability and honesty.
The article in your issue of September 11th, "Allotments, Peasant-Proprietors," &c., seems to be partly founded on a misapprehension of facts, not uncommon on the part of those who discuss in the public Press the position and claims of the agricultural labourer. You there ask,—" How many English labourers eat meat more than once a week ? How many take beer which does not resemble a mixture of mud and vinegar, or have more than one room 9" I am quite sure you would not wish to use misrepresentation for any party purpose, and therefore I ask leave to reply to your questions. I have had charge of five country parishes suc- cessively in different parts of this county of Northampton ; and during an experience of more than thirty years, I have never known a case in which the labourer did not eat meat most days in the week,—certainly the man himself, if not always the wife and younger children, the best provision being sometimes reserved for the " bread-winner's " evening meal. I never remember a case, in any of these parishes, of a family living in "one room ;" even less than three rooms is
now comparatively rare. The public-house beer is often (by no means always) bad, and to this I have always attributed much of the drunkenness which, I am glad to think, is now gradually decreasing. But in this parish, and I believe in many others, many of the prudent labourers now keep a small cask of beer, obtained direct from the brewers, in their cottages. This parish is no doubt, owing to happy circumstances for which I can claim no credit, rather what is called a " model " parish ; but two of the villages of which I speak from thorough know- ledge were anything but "models."
I could say something about allotments, but will not encroach upon your space. In every one of these parishes a portion of the glebe land was and is let in allotments, supplying as much as seemed to be needed in that way. Part of my glebe here was let in allotments of three and two acres, until, in these late years of depression, the supply of tenants failed. There is other land here let in allotments also; as much, I think, as there is any demand for. And no such limitations as "attendance at church, touching of hats," &c., were ever adopted, to my know- ledge, in any of these parishes ; no doubt sobriety and good character would have a preferential claim in the not very common event of there being more applicants than allotments. —I am, Sir, &c.,
The truth is, we imagine, that parishes differ as much as families.—ED. Spectator.]
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