THE CONDITIONS OF RURAL LIFE 75 



32.6 (i). Meat absorbs about one fifth of the total expenditure, 1.15 francs 

 per personal unit. Of the households considered there are only six in wliich 

 meat does not occur in the list of articles of diet consumed in the week of 

 observation. Moreover the investigators agree that the use of meat is 

 increasing considerably in coimtry districts. The pig provides most of the 

 meat consumed but many country families also eat butcher's meat, at least 

 once a week. The proportion of meat consumed varies from region to 

 region within fairly narrow limits and is least in the west. Compensation 

 is provided by larger consumption of butter in this region and the use of 

 fish in the coast districts. Contrary to what might be supposed . milk 

 holds a less important place in the diet of agricultural labourers than in 

 that of industrial workers : in the 185 households it is considered to account 

 for only 4 per cent, of the expenditure. Drink in these households absorbs 

 II per cent, of the total expenditure on diet. The percentage varies however 

 with regions, being 7 per cent, in Region VIII (West) in which only cider is 

 usually drunk, 9 per cent, in Region I (North) in which the customary drink 

 is beer, and as much as 14 per cent, in Region IV (South) and 26 per cent. 

 in Region VI (Central Massif) in which wine is consumed. 



The percentage absorbed by spirits varies in inverse ratio to that spent 

 on other drinks. It is non-existent or insignificant in districts in which the 

 habitual drink is wine but is considerable in districts in wliich beer or cider 

 is drunk. Thus in the 34 households in Region VIII (West) spirits absorb 

 9 per cent, of the total expenditure on diet and 8 per cent, in the 61 house- 

 holds of Region I (North). There is certain!}^ a very close relation between 

 the nature of the habitual drink and the quantity of spirits consumed. 

 In his description of the diet of the labourers of his district an investigator 

 of Eure-et-Loire says : " The drink is cider, a cold drink, and this is the rea- 

 son why coffee and spirits are so much taken ". An investigator of Loiret 

 says, " The labourer^enerally used to drink wine, but the insufiicient vin- 

 tage of recent years has influenced him to take more and more spirits ". 



It does not seem that employers make much effort to combat the al- 

 coholism of agricultural labourers. 



2) Various expenses [not on diet). — The figures obtained by the en- 

 (\\x\ry as to expenses other than those on diet are given in the table which 

 follows (Table V) and refer to 315 households of agricultural labourers 

 not fed. by their employers. 



Of the 315 families, 87 or more than a quarter lived in their own houses, 

 twelve enjoyed free lodging, while the others rented their dwellings, the 

 average annual rent being 107 francs or 8 per cent, of income. The pro- 

 portion spent on taxation and insurance is much the same as in the case 

 of the industrial famiUes, but that going to contributions to syndicates, 

 mutual societies and provision for retirement is much larger. In certain 

 regions (West, Central Massif) these latter contributions seem to be non- 

 existent or quite insignificant. 



(i) Foi industrial workeis the corresponding percentage is 23.4. 



