Crossword Genius

Old Mac from croft developed novel smallholding (4,7,4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

cold comfort farm

'novel smallholding' is the definition.
(smallholding in the novel of the same name)

'old mac from croft developed' is the wordplay.
'developed' is an anagram indicator.
'old'+'mac'+'from'+'croft'='oldmacfromcroft'
'oldmacfromcroft' anagrammed gives 'COLD COMFORT FARM'.

(Other definitions for cold comfort farm that I've seen before include "Novel" , "operation supplying frozen vegetables?" , "Stella Gibbons' rural parody" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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