Report on the Farm-Prize Competition of 1874. 581 



winter they have 10 lbs. of corn per day, consisting of beans 

 and maize, with clover chaff; in the spring- they have tares 

 and clover ; and in the summer they are turned out, the same 

 quantity of corn being given. A certain number of mares are 

 put to the horse every year, and we saw half-a-dozen very good 

 colts and fillies, their produce, from two to three years old. 



Labour. — Mr. Crouch's men, as I have mentioned before, 

 struck for an advance of wages at the same time as Mr. 

 Checkley's, and returned to him on the same conditions. His 

 staff of men consists of: 



10 ordinary labourers, at 14^. per week. 

 3 cowmen, at 175. per week. 



1 shepherd, at 16^. 6f/. per week. 



2 horse-keepers, at 175. per week. 

 5 boys, at from Ss. to 85. per week. 



The cowmen come at a quarter to five in the morning and 

 leave at six at night, the ordinary hours of labour being from 

 six to six. 



The horse-keepers, during the time that the horses are turned 

 out in the summer, have \s. Qd. per week deducted from their 

 wages, their attendance not being required on the Sunday. In 

 hay harvest the whole of the men receive 2s. per week extra, 

 with 2^ pints of beer daily, and when carting 4 pints, and 

 remain until seven o'clock, and nine if required. 



The boys have 2d. per week extra, with 1^ pint of beer 

 daily. 



Mr. Crouch pays 4a-. per acre for his mowing, which is all 

 done by hand. The whole of his hay and corn harvest is 

 gathered without any additional help ; and, with the exception 

 of the grass-mowing, everything is done by the day. By this 

 system Mr. Crouch thinks, and it is no doubt the case, that 

 the work is better done, but it can only be carried out by 

 constant supervision. 



In harvest the ordinary labourers receive bl. 10s. for one 

 month, the cowmen, horse-keepers, and shepherds 5Z. l&s. ; and 

 if the harvest is not finished in that time they are paid 2s. Qd. 

 per day, but this is rarely the case. 



The total amount of wages paid during the harvest month 

 last year was lllZ. 45., the harvest being finished and the stacks 

 thatched in that time. 



This gives an average of I65. per acre, which, it should be 

 remembered, covers not only the special harvest w^ork, but the 

 ordinary work of the farm as well. 



The average amount paid for labour during the last three 

 years is 676Z. II5. Id., or an average per acre of 11. 95. 8d. 



