Appendix

Summary

As the system of making small allotments of Land to the labouring Poor is extending very much, and great good is found therefrom, not only to the Poor themselves, but also to all those who are in any way interested, either as contributors to Parish Rates, or in the quiet and orderly behaviour of the labouring Class; it has been thought that it might be beneficial to relate what has been done on this subject in the Parish of Toddington, in Bedfordshire.

This Parish, as appears by the last census, contains 1,926 inhabitants, of which 306 are employed in Agriculture.

In common with many other Parishes, the quantity of agricultural labour has greatly exceeded the demand, and for want of a regular, well-managed plan, for the employment of the extra hands, they have been turned on the high roads in gangs of 20 or 30, not to work, but apparently to give them an opportunity of forming plans for midnight depredation. The consequence was, as might have been forseen, a great demoralisation of the men, and an increase of the rates. Under these circumstances, W. D. C. Cooper, Esq., the principal Proprietor in the Parish, resolved to make the experiment, whether this sad state of things might not be ameliorated by making allotments of Land, to the labourers.

In November, 1829, six allotments of half-an-acre each, were made to six men well recommended for their good conduct, and having large families.—The Land is a free-working gravel, and at the time was a Wheat stubble; it was let as from the 29th September preceding ; but as no profit could accrue to the people for the next half-year, their rent was not to begin before the 25th March following. It was not supposed that they would attempt to put in any Wheat; however, they each by some means or other, collected sufficient manure for a small part of their Land and sowed it with Wheat. The rest of the Land was in the spring set mostly with Potatoes, with some Peas, Cabbages, Turnips, Scarlet Beans, etc. Then men took great pains and kept their Land very clean—they were repayed by good Crops, which caused them to redouble their exertions to procure manure; so that the streets were cleaned of whatever could be made convertible to this end.