MORE FARM LAND

Evening Star, Issue 16347, 13 February 1917, Page 8

MORE FARM LAND

With a view to increasing food production tire Earl of Berkeley, who recently inherited the Berkeley estates, Gloucestershire, on the death of Lord Fitzlnrdinge, has decided to convert his deer park at Berkeley, Castle to agricultural purposes. The herds of red and fallow deer which for nearly 700 years have roamed through Whitcliff Park, attached to the castle at Berkeley, will be disposed of during the corning season at such times and in such manner tiiat the maximum amount of food may he obtained from them. The park is to he converted to agricultural requirements during the war. The Bolton Corporation arc taking steps to increase food production by utilising land in parks and cemeteries. The ornamental flower beds in parks are to ho used for growing potatoes, and nearly feur acres in one of the cemeteries are" to be sown with oats.

Lord Pirrie has made over Church Down Farm, llaslemerc, to the local council. The iarm is a large one, and has been under cultivation for some years-. His mrdship has specified that the land shall bo used for the growing of potatoes, and it is estimated that it will ho capable of producing ICO.OOO tons, the hulk of winch would be supplied to the Government. Mr Samuel Rogers, Deputy Mayor of Croydon, states that the Croydon Vacant Land Cultivation Society started more than two years before the Government took up the question. Up to Christmas Day the society had 930 plotholders, cultivating about 60 acres which were previously lv:ng idle. There is more than double that amount available.