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DRAINS AND REPAIRS.--Instead of the ordinary system of bit-by-bit repairs and
instead of arrangements for the tenants to execute drains, as the first step
after the change of proprietorship, a complete survey was made of the defects
and of the value of all the holdings. On this survey the rents were fixed,
with the understanding that while no increase of rent would be imposed on a
good tenant, lazy slovenly farming would be forthwith taxed with an
additional ten per cent.
The landlords have themselves undertaken to execute a complete deep drainage
of the whole property at a cost of 20,000 pounds. For this they charge the
tenants five per cent. on the outlay per acre occupied. Farm buildings and
farm houses are being put in thorough repair, and tenants are expected so to
keep them.
In the course of these repairs farm houses were found in which the windows
were fixtures, not intended to open! While as to the farming, it is scarcely
possible to imagine anything more barbarous. It is not a corn-growing
district, and what corn is grown these weaver farmers, indifferent apparently
to loss of time, first lash against a board to get part of the grain out, and
then thrash the rest out of the straw!
Market garden cultivation, stall feeding, and root crops would answer well,
but at the time of the survey only two gardens were cultivated for the sale
of produce in the unlimited markets of Oldham, Rochdale, and Manchester; and
little feeding except of pigs.
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