THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



•177 



the consequences would bo seou and felt in a degraded popu- 

 lation, increased poor rates, and the growth of a race of ser- 

 vants virtually good for notiiing. It was not an exclusive 

 question for the consideration of landlords, or clergymen, or 

 farmers, but primarily they must work altogether, and after 

 that the agricultural labourer must work out his own re- 

 form. Those who attempted these improvements must not 

 be discouraged if at first but little fruit followed their labours ; 

 they must remember the way in which the labourers had 

 been brought up, and not expect to work wonders all at once. 

 If they failed at first in effecting great results, they should 

 go on : use their labourers fairly, provide them with decent 

 houses, and pay them fair wages. The result would be that 

 they would have better servants, and would have assisted 

 in making a contented, moral, and industrious people, which 

 would be the greatest blessing England could ever boast. 

 Thus they might safely go on in the path of democracy, and 

 confer upon the labourers that share in the representation 

 which all wished them to have." 



The same subject was alluded to at the Royal East Berk- 

 shire Society by the Hon. P. P. Bouverie, M.P. He 

 said — " It was true that of late years much had been done 

 to improve the condition of the labourers, but much yet re- 

 mained to be done. There was a problem arising out of the 

 present state of society, which had been mooted on other 

 occasions, and which he thought ought not to be forgotten. 

 It was a problem that was at the bottom of our social sys- 

 tem, and without it they would not see that advance in the 

 moral improvement of the people which they all desired. 

 He alluded to the subject of the labourers' cottages. It was 

 a problem not yet solved how cottages could be built, and 

 the expenditui'e, or the interest of it, be met by the labour- 

 ers at their present rate of wages. In plain terms, could 

 gentlemen build cottages such as labourers ought to have, 

 and look for such a rent as would be a return for the capital 

 expended .^ He was confident that there was no one thing 

 in our social system that was more capable of improvement, 

 or more at the foundation of all the moral improvement in 

 this country than providing suitable houses for the working 

 classes. They might make educational efforts, and do 

 everything else they could ; but as long as it should be a 

 fact that the labourers could not afford to pay the interest 

 of the capital expended in building for them residences 

 which would enable them to bring up their families in 

 decency, so long there would not be that improvement in the 

 habits and conduct in the lower orders of life. He was glad to 

 know that many gentlemen were endeavouring to improve 

 the cottages on their estates, but it was an expenditure of 

 money that they could not expect the common labourer to 

 pay the interest of. He was putting up some new ones on 

 his property, in Somersetshire, and his plan was not to have 

 less than three bed-rooms. He mentioned this subject, 

 hoping that by drawing attention to it something might be 

 done to improve the cottages of the labouring poor. He 

 observed that this society gave premiums to industrious 

 labourers for the good cultivation of their gardens, and for 

 neat cottages. This he believed to be an important object, 

 as, by encouraging industry and cleanliness, they might 

 hope to see the young grow up and become good labourers. 

 He was much pleased in attending this meeting, and he 

 trusted that the society might continue to be a lasting benefit 

 to the agricultural labourers of the district." 



Mr. R. W. GrkxNFELL also said— "Mr. Bouverie had 

 remarked with great justice that there was a great dearth of 

 accommodation for labourers in agricultural districts gener- 



ally, and ho thought that as tlie Prince Cousort and one or 

 two gentlemen in that nciglibourhood did their best to pro- 

 mote the interests of the farmer by offering prizes for the 

 improved cultivation of land, he would suggest to the tenant- 

 farmers they would do well if they combined together to 

 offer a prize to the landlord who should erect cottages on the 

 most economical plan, and that would most tend to the pro- 

 per comfort of labourers. ( Laughter. ) It was a crying sin 

 iu this country — it was not so much so now aa formerly — 

 when, fiom selfish feelings, the landlords and tenants joined 

 together to pull down and destroy the cotta<i;es in the coun- 

 try. Without at all being egotistic, ho would mention that 

 his family were erecting new houses for labourers on their 

 property in Wales. They paid £1,670 per week to the 

 persona in their employ for wages, and last year they laid 

 out £3,300 in building new houses for them. They received 

 no rent for the cottages, for there was such competition for 

 the labourers that it was of the utmost importance they 

 should get good and steady workmen. All the houses were 

 built with three bedrooms, and the requisite rooms and out- 

 buildings below. The men were so satisfied that they now 

 said, ' We will never leave you; because we can live decently, 

 by separating the boys from the girls.' " 



SYMONDSBURY HARVEST-HOME. 



Men of sinew ! hale and hearty ! 



Brave at scj'the and sickle, come ! 

 Come and swell our glecsome party ! 



Reapers ! sturdy reapers, come ! 

 Time for all things, this for leisure ; 

 Time for all things, this for pleasure ! 



Sing our merry Harvest-Home. 



Mothers meek 1 home troubles leaving, 

 Join your husbands' joy, and come : 



Honour, love, respect receiving. 

 From the honest-hearted, come ! 



Nought unmeet for woman's bearing. 



Nought unmeet for woman's hearing 

 Blots our merry Harvest-Home. 



Maidens modest ! fear no roughness ; 



Fathers, brothers are we; come! 

 Kind and true, despite our bluft'ness : 



Maidens modest, come, then, come ! 

 Far away be thoughts of lightness ; 

 With your own unsullied brightness, 



Maidens, bless our Harvest-Home. 



Aged folks ! our hamlet's glory, 



Dames and grandsires ! all must come ; 



Come and tell again the story 

 Of the days long bygone ; come ! 



Ye who with life's ills have striven. 



And to whom now rest is given. 

 Welcome to our Harvest-Home ! 



Laughing children ! lend your rattle 

 To our merry-making ; come ! 



Good to hear is childhood's prattle : 

 Children ! merry children, come ! 



Ye have work'd as hard as others, 



Gleaning proud beside your mothers— 

 Ye must share our Harvest-Home. 



High and low ! with one another, 

 Young and old ! come join us, come ! 



Each to each, in God, a brother, 

 To our village High-Day come ! 



Well it is that harvest labours, 



Richly crown'd, should bind all neighbours 

 In a thankful Harvest-Home. 



