Allotments 
Allotments THE “three acres and a cow” problem that startled rural England some years ago, and became the precursor of the Allotment Act of 1887, is now a matter of ancient history. No question was probably held up to more ridicule than this. The idea of providing every rustic with three acres and a cow, unfortunately for its author, fell to the ground, but it produced one good result, the passing of the Allotment Act, by means of which country dwellers are enabled, through the medium of the Sanitary, District, or Parish Councils, to obtain plots of land for gardening purposes. But it is not an easy matter to put the Act in force; and hence many, while anxious to avail themselves of the benefit of the Act, hesitate to put its cumbrous and costly machinery into motion.
Fortunately it is not a sine qua non in all cases where land is desired for allotments that applicants should avail themselves of the provisions of the Allotment Acts to obtain it. If it were so, then we fear allotments in the neighbourhood of towns would not be so numerous as they are at the present time. In saying this, we must not be understood as depreciating the value of the Acts. They are no doubt of considerable service where land cannot be obtained by a friendly arrangement between owners and applicants; but we say most emphatically that their provisions should only be resorted to as a last resource.
In the neighbourhood of the Metropolis there are numerous allotment gardens that have been obtained in a friendly way, and which are carried on most successfully. Some of these are laid out in twenty-five rod plots, and let by the owner direct to each occupier on a yearly tenancy at one shilling per statute rod per annum. These occur on Lord Northbrook’s estate at Lee, Kent In another case, land is hired by a responsible and philanthropic gentleman from one of the City companies in the neighbourhood of Catford, Kent, and by him sublet in small plots to worthy applicants on the same terms as the preceding case. The gentleman in question makes only an infinitesimal profit out of the sublet plots, and this is placed to a general fund for repairs, making roads, keeping fences in order, and providing prizes for encouraging the occupiers to keep their plots well cropped and in good order.
Chippenham allotments, c. 1910
Allotment Rules
1. Every person before becoming a tenant must be duly elected a member of the Society, and have paid his subscription. He will not be eligible to participate in the ballot for ground, until one clear month from the date of payment of subscription to the Society.
2. Rent shall be at the maximum charge or sixpence per rod per annum, payable in advance at Midsummer. Each tenant shall be provided with a rent-book free. Any tenant losing the same shall be charged threepence: for a new one, which he must provide himself with forthwith.
3. No plot shall be sublet.
4. No work shall be done on Sundays after 10 a.m.
5. No building of any kind shall be erected on the ground, and no bush fruit or rose trees be planted less than three feet from the paths.
6. No fencing shall be removed without the consent of the Allotment Committee.
7. No dogs, perambulators, or children of tender ages shall be admitted, unless under proper control.
8. No rubbish of any kind shall be deposited in the public road or footpath.
9. Each tenant shall give twelve inches around his allotment to form a path, which must be twenty-four inches wide.
10. Each tenant must keep his ground in proper cultivation, also use his best endeavours to protect the fences and his neighbour’s produce, and keep in repair the paths adjoining his plot.
11. Each tenant shall not cause, but endeavour to prevent, any nuisance which may arise from burning rubbish, or manuring his ground, &c.
12. Each tenant shall be provided with a key, and shall not enter the ground except by the gates provided, and on entering or leaving it must leave the gate securely locked. Any tenant having in his possession the padlock of any gate shall be fined 2s. 6d.
13. Any tenant wishing to give up possession of his ground shall give three months’ notice, in writing, to the Secretary, such notice to expire at Lady Day, and at the expiration of the tenancy the key shall be delivered up to the Secretary. Any tenant losing his key must provide himself with another forthwith, for which he will be charged sixpence.
14. Should any plot or plots be required for any purposes compensation shall be settled by arbitration, according to the terms of agreement held by the Society from the Lessors.
15. All the above rules shall be strictly enforced and be binding on the tenants, and the Society shall have the right of reentry and possession of the ground, without any notice or compensation, either for non-payment of rent, or for breach or non-performance of any of them.
16. Any question not provided for by these rules shall be decided by the Allotment Committee (elected from the General Committee), who shall report the same to the General Committee for final decision.
Another instance of voluntary allotments is to be seen in that erstwhile swamp, the Isle of Dogs. Here was formerly a large tract of waste ground, at one time used as a deposit for sanitary refuse, and now, through the influence of Mr. John MacDougall, L.C.C., and a band of willing and enthusiastic workers, converted into a huge garden, laid out in small plots, and cultivated by residents – working-men – in the neighbourhood. When first started, and, for aught we know to the contrary is the case now, stable-keepers in the district used to pay the allotment committee sixpence per load for the privilege of depositing the manure from their stables on the ground.
And then, to take another case with which we are very familiar, the allotments held under the auspices of the Ladywell and District Horticultural Society, a society composed mainly of working-men. Some of the members were able to obtain small plots of ground in the neighbourhood, and to grow excellent produce, which invariably gained leading prizes at the Society’s exhibitions. Their success and opportunities made other less fortunate members yearn for similar plots, and stimulated the executive to take steps to see if it were possible to obtain land under the auspices of the Society. An opportunity at length arose, in the shape of some four acres of land awaiting building operations in Lewisham Park, the property of the Right Hon. the Earl of Dartmouth, the Lord of the Manor of Lewisham. His lordship was approached on the subject of acquiring this land, if only on short tenure, for allotments, and he readily assented to its being leased to the Society at the nominal rental of threepence per rod per annum.
There are numbers of other societies in and about London and other towns who might imitate this good example with benefit to themselves and hundreds of working-men, who would only be too glad to have a plot of ground in, which to grow a few vegetables for themselves and families. Waste land, lying idle and unprofitable, and awaiting building operations, might, with a little tact and diplomacy, be secured on short tenure from landowners in the district. Such land would lose nothing by being cultivated, in fact would be greatly improved, and at the same time be conferring a great benefit on artisans and working-men generally. It is of little use, however, applying to landowners for individual plots; they do not care to be bothered with a number of small tenants. It is far better for a number to co-operate together, form a small society, and in this collective or corporate capacity apply for the land, agree to pay the rent in one sum, and sublet and collect the rents from the holders of the plots. Such a society, formed and worked on co-operative lines, could do more; it could undertake to purchase its manures, seeds, and tools, and if necessary lay on water, at a considerable saving in outlay.
Approach the local clergy and leading residents in a diplomatic manner, tell them your wants, and if there is land to be had, and you go the right way to work, you will get it. Never mind about insecurity of tenure. If you are only able to secure a plot for one year, another will turn up somewhere else. The pleasure of growing your own vegetables for the pot, and maybe a few flowers for the wife to deck her home with, coupled with the beneficial exercise and the healthy occupation of turning over the soil, will more than repay for your trouble. It will bring you renewed health, enable you to spend many pleasant hours, save your greengrocer’s bill, and generally make your wife, your family, and your home all the brighter and happier.
A Few Words by the Editor
I have special pleasure in presenting this section of the One & All Popular Garden Books, for many reasons. The circumstances under which it is published are full of interest. One of the most earnest and devoted philanthropists of our time, Dr. J. B. Paton, of Nottingham, conceived the idea of establishing gardens for our soldiers, who live in barracks where there is generally too little of human interest and variety for their lives, in spite of some excellent recent improvements and developments. This idea he communicated to me, requesting me to co-operate in the good movement, for which he hoped to gain the effective help of Mr. Haldane, M.P., our able War Minister. One set of such gardens has been successfully established at Mill Hill Barracks by the active efforts of Major Pemberton. For these gardens our One & All Association furnished seeds and other supplies, and organised a course of lectures to the soldiers on garden-culture bent. The results have fully justified Dr. Paton’s anticipations as regards their educational and recreative effects. It can clearly be seen that a general development of gardens of the kind would be a work of national importance.
The two “lectures” prepared for the benefit of soldier-gardeners are so good, so clear, so comparatively complete that I confidently anticipate for them a wide welcome by amateurs of all classes and conditions. Special care has been taken to illustrate fully Mr. Wright’s instructions, and to make the two garden books easily understandable by anyone.
