The proportion of the cultivated area in demesne tended to be greater in smaller manors , while the share of villein land was greater in large manors , providing the lord of the latter with a larger potential supply of obligatory labor for demesne work . The proportion of the cultivated area in demesne tended to be greater in smaller manors , while the share of villein land was greater in large manors , providing the lord of the latter with a larger supply of obligatory labor for demesne work .