62 Agriculture of Shropshire. 



ficial drainage. I have met with several instances vv^here the 

 expense of drainage has been considerably reduced by the forma- 

 tion of a swallow-hole (or, as locally termed, swilly-hole). By 

 sinking an opening into the porous rock beneath, an excellent 

 outlet is immediately obtained, and to this point the general 

 drainage of the field is directed. Draining-pipes are almost 

 always used, and they are usually laid ^h or 4 feet deep. 



The Labourers. — The supply of labour is rather deficient, and 

 none need be out of employment who are able to do farm-work, 

 for there is ample work for all. They generally receive lis. 

 a-week wages and two quarts of beer daily, which adds about 4:d. 

 a-day to the pay. If they do not have their drink, then 125. 

 a-week are paid. In harvest-time the supply of beer is almost 

 unlimited and the wages are increased. I do not consider it a 

 good practice to supply liquor throughout the year, but at harvest- 

 time, and especially when a period of emergency arises, it is 

 necessary to give the men an additional stimulus to enable them 

 to perform the excessive labour required. Considerable help is 

 obtained in hay and corn harvest from Welsh and Irish labourers, 

 who come over in large numbers. 



The cottages for farm-labourers are very few, and these 

 have much need of alteration. Habits of cleanliness cannot be 

 encouraged in them, nor can even the rules of decency be ob- 

 served in the majority of these cottages. Scarcely any have more 

 than two bedrooms, in which the whole family have to locate. 

 Often they are obliged to have a lodger, in consequence of the 

 deficient accommodation in the neighbourhood. More cottages, 

 and of better character, are sadly wanted. It is a duty which 

 loudly demands the attention of the proprietors of this district, 

 and it devolves upon them to supply this need, even if the in- 

 terest upon the outlay is not as great as might be wished. The 

 want of a comfortable home is a great inducement to emigration ; 

 nor can we be surprised that young and prosperous labourers 

 should seek in other countries the opportunity of realizing better 

 pay, more comfort, and independence, when they find their homes 

 deficient in comfort and without any probable prospect of im- 

 provement. If good labourers are to be retained, their homes 

 must be improved. 



This deficiency of cottages — many farms of 300 acres not 

 having above one cottage — compels the occupant of the land to 

 board a number of servants in his own house, which is a very 

 expensive and inconvenient mode of securing labourers. I have 

 been favoured with the plan upon which the Duke of Bedford's 

 cottages are built. They are so excellent in their arrangement, 

 and the requirements of the district are so pressing, that I feel it 



