423 
2.38 franes in the department of the Seine. In 1862 the range was from 
2.12 francs in Hérault to 3.10 franes in the Seine. The latter shows the 
highest rate of increase from 1849 to 1862, viz, 55 per cent. The. small- 
est increase, 7.84 per cent., is found in Vaucluse. But these are the 
most progressive agricultural regions of France. From 1849 to 1853 
day’s labor in Cétes-du-Nord was paid only 0.8 frances per day, and in 
1862 had increased to only 1.14 franes, or at the rate of 425 per cent. 
In the remaining departments the increase was between 17 and 44 per 
cent., but in all the wages were very low. The average increase was 
about 33 per cent. In 1852 women were paid on an average 0.89 francs 
per day, without board, or 0.47 frances with board. In 1862 the daily 
wage had risen to 1.14 frances without board and 0.62 francs with board, 
the former having increased 28 per cent. and the latter 52 per cent. 
Children, without board, received 0.61 franes per day in 1852 and 0.82 
francs in 1862, an increase of 344 per cent.; with board they received 
0.31 franes in 1852 and 0.43 franes in 1862, an increase of 382 per cent. 
in ten years. These figures take no account of the exceptional increase 
of wages at harvest and vintage. During these special periods of the 
year men in 1862 received 2.77 franes per day without board or 1.82 
franes with board; women, 1.73 franes without board and 1.13 with 
board; children, 1.22 franes without board and 0.77 with board. 
The average number of days’ labor per annum in 1862, for men in the 
eight departments giving the largest amount of employment, for men 
ranged from 265 days in Pas-de-Calais, to 275 in Seine; for women, from 
192 in Pas-de-Calais, to 249 in Var; for children, from 140 in Pas-de- 
Calais, to 193in Var. In the eight departments in which rural employ- 
ment was least active, especially among the mountains, the average 
number of days for men varied from 156 in Savoy, to 183 in Meuse; for 
women, from 118 in Savoy, to 152 in Haute-Sadne; for children, from 81 
in Savoy, to 120 in Ariége. The average for the whole country was 226 
days per annum for men, 172 for women, and 129 for children. A family | 
in which the father, mother, and one child obtained the average num- 
ber of days’ labor received 550 franes per annum in 1852, and 720 franes 
in 1862. Besides this, a good number found extra employment in spe- 
cial industries. In 1700, a laborer received but 0.5 frane per day, and 
his family averaged 180 franes per annum; in 1788, 0.6 franc per day, 
and 200 franes per annum; in 1813, 1.05, and 400; in 1840, 1.30, and 
500; in 1852, 1.42, and 550; in 1862, 1.85, and 720; in 1872, 2, and 800. 
Thus, the daily wage of a man doubled in the 25 years from 1788 to 
1813, and quadrupled in the 84 years from 1788 to 1872. 
But in order to test the point whether this advance of wages repre- 
sents a real improvement in condition, the writer makes a calculation 
in regard to the expense of living and the quality of its elements. Aver- 
aging families at five persons each, and allowing each person 3 hecto- 
liters, or 84 bushels of wheat per annum, the quantity consumed by each 
family will average 15 hectoliters, or 423 bushels per annum. In 1700, 
when the annual family income was 180 tranes, the hectoliter was worth 
18.85 franes, and the quantity above assigned for family consumption 
cost 283 francs per annum, or 103 francs more than the family income. 
in 1788, the annual family income had risen to 200 frances, and the aver- 
age price of wheat had fallen to 16 franes per hectoliter, yet the cost of 
the 15 hectoliters was 240 frances, or 40 francs more than the family in- 
come. During the next twenty-five years, ending in 1813, the average 
family income had doubled, but the price of wheat had also risen to 21 
franes per hectoliter, making 315 franes for 15 hectoliters, or 85 franes 
less than the family income. In 1840, the income had increased 25 per 
