The principal obstacle to the progress of the allotment system is the difficulty of obtaining land ; but the landowners are much more favourable to it than the farmers, whose objections are—that the time which the allotment requires inter feres with the labourers' ordinary em ployment; that it makes them too inde pendent, and less anxious to obtain work and, thirdly, they object that it affords a cloak for theft. These objections have frequently been entirely given up after the farmers had become practically ac quainted with the operation of the sys tem.
The principal rules which experience has shown to be best calculated to render the allotment system successful are briefly as follows :—As it is not intended that the tenant should look upon his plot of ground as a substitute for wages, but merely as a small addition to this main resource, its size should not be greater than can be cultivated during the leisure or spare time of the labourer or his family. The size of the allotment is de termined by the number of the tenant's family, or the quality of the land, and in some cases by the quantity of manure which can be collected. The maximum size of allotments, according to Captain Scobell, should not exceed 50 or 60 rods, and 20 rods are sufficient for a person just settled and without a family. The size of Mrs. Davies Gilbert's allotments are as follows :-255 less than a quarter of an acre ; 108 quarter-acres ; 2 contain sixty rods each ; 13 are half:acres ; 2 are three quarter acres ; 22 are one-acres ; and 16 others contain two, four, and five acres ; and one is of nine acres. Some persons state that a man in full employ can ma nage an allotment of a quarter of an acre, or 40 rods ; but others are of opinion that 20 rods are quite enough. In one district the labourer may not be fully employed by the farmer; and in another, under a better system of management, he may be employed at piece-work to the full extent of his powers ; and hence the difference of opinion on this point. Tha allotment should be situated as near as • • ible to the tenant's cottage. Captain "bell says that the distance should never exceed a mile, as the labourer will be fatigued by a longer walk, and it will be inconvenient to send so far for vege tables for daily use. In Kent there are allotments which are two or three miles from the labourer's dwelling, but this is a proof that employment is precarious, and that on the whole his condition is not good. A much higher rent can be ob tained for small allotments under garden tillage, than for land in undivided te nancy; and it is but reasonable that the owner of a hundred acres divided into half-acre allotments, and having two hundred tenants instead of one, should receive additional rent in respect of his additional trouble in collecting the rent, looking after his property, and other ex penses that are incident to the division of the land. Those who are conversant
with the system say that if the rent is one-third higher, the difference is not un reasonable ; but as allotments are at pre sent granted as a matter of favour, they are not set at a rack-rent. It is usual for the landlord to include tithes, parochial and other rates, in the rent, in order to save trouble, and to prevent the tenant being unexpectedly and frequently called upon for money payments. The rent of 137 acres belonging to Mrs. Davies Gil bert, divided into 419 allotments, is 428L 8s. 54d., or nearly three guineas per acre, which includes rates, tithes, and taxes, but is exclusive of houses and buildings, which are paid for separately. The rents vary from 68. up to 81. an acre. A form of agreement, which is usually signed by allotment tenants, embodies rules for the management of the land, and fixes other conditions for their ob servance. Spade-culture is insisted upon, and the use of the plough is prohibited; also underletting and working on Sun day. There are instances in which at tendance at the parish church is enforced; and in other cases it is merely stipulated that there shall be attendance at some place of worship. The allotment is usu ally forfeited for non-payment of rent, gross misconduct, commitment for any crime, or wilful neglect of the land. A particular rotation of crops is sometimes required in the agreement. The growth of wheat is not allowed in some cases. Where it is permitted, it may probably be safely assumed that in that particular district the labourer is worse off than usual. Some recommend that on a half acre one half should be in wheat, and the other half in potatoes ; and it is assumed that other vegetables are grown in the garden attached to the labourer's cottage. Captain Scobell thinks it unadvisable to exclude any one from holding an allot ment on account of previous bad cha racter, as there is a chance of his being reclaimed. Becoming permanently a pauper is a fit ground for exclusion ; but when the tenant receives casual relief on account of sickness or accident, he is not excluded. So long as the tenant observes the conditions of his agreement, it is found useful to stipulate that he shall on no other account be ejected from his land.