connected loith Mines. 439 



impracticability of successfully carrying' out the allotment system 

 amongst the mining^ classes. They differ from the workman of 

 the manufacturer, who rents a house of his own, and who when 

 he leaves one master can go to another without changing his 

 residence ; his allotment, which he finds it profitable to rent and 

 cultivate, improves his health, gives force and elasticity to his 

 mind, and tends to make him a better parent, a better servant, 

 and a better subject of the realm. His allotment creates an attach- 

 ment to the place in which he resides, and instead of being a sort 

 of wanderer he becomes a citizen. But, on the other hand, the 

 owners of mines have generally to build houses for their men in 

 order to carry on the works successfully ; but as the latter feel 

 no security of tenure beyond a year, and when they leave one 

 master they have to remove from the locality, they will not take 

 much interest in an allotment. Unless men have either the 

 hope or the prospect of remaining for some years upon a place, 

 the allotment system would not work well. It would work 

 equally well amongst miners as other labourers were they not 

 peculiarly situated, and if thev had cottages of their own it 

 would tend greatly to their social elevation. 



I think, however, that, taking the miners, as a class, and 

 the circumstances in which they are placed into consideration, 

 free or accommodation gardens form a good substitute for the 

 allotment proper, especially if encouragement is given to the men 

 to cultivate them properly. One of the best means of doing 

 this is to organise a local horticultural society. On one of the 

 collieries in the localitv where I reside a societv of this kind has 

 of late years been established, and the good which it has been the 

 means of doing has exceeded the expectations of its most sanguine 

 promoters. It has given rise to a spirit of rivalry and emulation 

 amongst the men in the cultivation of their gardens, the unculti- 

 vated plots are fast disappearing, and an air of comfort and neat- 

 ness is connected with their dwellings. The men frequent the 

 beershop much less than formerly, and are more contented. The 

 annual show is looked forward to with much interest by the 

 miners. It is held at a beautiful and romantic old castle, and as 

 no intoxicating drink is allowed upon the grounds, the utmost 

 order and harmonv prevail. Innocent games are Indulged In upon 

 the green turf, and the presence of the masters and a sprinkling of 

 the aristocracy gives a sort of tckit to the whole proceedings. 



It is found that from a sixth to a fourth part of an acre is quite 

 sufficient for any workman and his family to cultivate, the former 

 being about the average allowance. 



FicMree, Chester-le-Street. 



