OF SCOTCH AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS. 15 



of cheese than is at present used be consumed in lieu of animal 

 food. 



3. That to each rural labourer's family not less than a Scotch 

 })int of sweet milk (3£ imperial pints) be allowed daily; and that 

 with a view to this most important article of food being regularly 

 obtained, the quantity named should form part of the labourer's 

 wages ; or that instead of this allowance, a cow's keep and 

 accommodation for a cow be allowed by the farmer. 



4. That the payment of wages in hind should be continued, 

 and that coals as well as meal and potatoes should form part of 

 such payment by the masters. 



5. That the money wages be paid weekly instead of half-yearly, 

 or in partial monthly payments to account, as is at present the 

 case on most farms in the Lothians and elsewhere. 



6. That with the view of improving the cooking of the 

 peasant's diet, besides the allowance of coals above referred to 

 being given, each cottage should be provided by the landlord 

 with a suitable " fixed in " grate for cooking, having a boiler 

 attached ; and where practicable, a small boiler should be erected 

 for the use of each cottage, either for boiling food for their pig, 

 or for domestic purposes other than cooking, so as to relieve the 

 use of the kitchen fire. 



7. That a larger piece of garden ground than is generally given 

 should be allotted to each ploughman's cottage. 



8. Unless special accommodation for the purpose be provided, 

 cottagers should not be allowed to keep lodgers; for this practice 

 defeats the efforts of the landlord to provide each family with 

 requisite and sufficient " living space," the due and proper 

 amount of which is absolutely necessary to the continued health 

 and vigour of the cottager. If crowding and airlessness be per- 

 mitted, filth and disease are engendered; and if this state of 

 matters exists along with insufficient food, the low dietary then 

 becomes the certain aggravator of a predisposition to disease. 



APPENDIX A. 

 CAITHNESS-SHIRE. 



1. Parish of Reay. Shepherds.— J. R. Family above ten years, 2 ; be- 

 low, 3. Takes meals at home. Rent free. Yearly wages, £20 in money, 

 7 bolls meal, 30 to 60 chains potatoes, keep for 8 ewes and cow, 3 tons coals 

 or 25 loads peats, and 3 pints sweet milk daily. Wages of family, one at 9d. 

 and one at Is. per day. When a cow is kept £2 a-year is deducted from 

 wages ; no pigs or poultry allowed. 



Breakfast, brose at 5 a.m. before turning out, porridge and milk at 11 a.m., 

 with tea or coffee afterwards ; of family, porridge and milk or treacle at 9 

 a.m. Dinner with family at 6 p.m., potatoes and dried herrings, or potatoes 



