AGRICULTURE 



32J-. zd. an acre for mixed farms to i8j. \od. an acre for grass farms, whereas 

 now the former stand at 25J. f)d. and the latter 15/, jd. an acre, a reduction 

 of about twenty per cent, and seventeen per cent, respectively. But while 

 the expenditure on up-keep (buildings, drainage, &c.) was Sj. 3^. in the ^ 

 in 1875, it is IOJ-. \d. in the jT now, so that the reduction of net income is 

 considerably greater than the above figures indicate. The holdings are of 

 small size in the lead-mining districts of Upper Teesdale, where the occupiers 

 generally combine mining with their farm work, but usually extend to over 

 200 acres towards the east of the county. The homesteads are nearly all 

 built of stone with slate roofs, and as a rule are in good repair, a striking 

 feature of the whole estate being that they are all whitewashed either annually 

 or every two years. Lord Barnard places good shorthorn bulls, shire stallions, 

 and a thoroughbred stallion at the disposal of his tenants for nominal fees. 

 Leases are neither asked for nor granted, but it is unusual for a farm to change 

 hands, although tenants by choice sometimes move to other farms on 

 the estate. 



Agricultural land was on an average worth about thirty years' purchase 

 in 1875 ; it had dropped to about twenty-five a few years ago, but has now 

 slightly recovered, varying from that to about twenty-seven. 



The in-coming tenant usually enters into full possession on i 3 May, the 

 out-going tenant giving up to him half of the tillage-land and all the straw 

 on the preceding 30 November, the grass land for hay on 26 April, and the 

 pasture land about 10 May. All dung made from 30 November is handed 

 over to the in-coming tenant. 



In 1904 there were in the county 159 farms over 300 acres in extent, 

 and 2,334 between 50 and 300 acres. There were also 3,057 smaller holdings 

 of between 5 and 50 acres, and 1,197 ^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^ extent. On the smaller 

 farms the farmer usually works a pair of horses himself, and while most of 

 his time on the larger farms is required for superintending he is generally 

 ready to take part in the work at busy times. 



The last census revealed a striking decrease in the number of male 

 agricultural labourers in the county, as there were 10,004 of these in 1851 

 and only 5,049 in 1901. For this, the increased cost of labour, improved 

 agricultural machinery, greater extent of pasture and lower prices for agri- 

 cultural produce are all responsible. The custom of engaging the men at 

 hiring markets is now being replaced by the better method of advertising in 

 the newspapers. The hinds, or ploughmen, are usually hired from 13 May 

 (old May Day) for one year. The wages of married men have increased 

 from about lis. a week in 1845 ^° about 20J. at the present time with a free 

 house, about 7J cwt. of potatoes, and sometimes other allowances. The 

 unmarried men usually live in the farmer's house and receive from jC3° ^o 

 ^(^36 a year, instead of about ,^18 as in i 850. The old custom of giving ' arles ' 

 at the time of engagement has not yet disappeared. The food has been greatly 

 improved, and usually now includes eggs and bacon for breakfast and meat with 

 vegetables for dinner. Sixty years ago the food included oatmeal porridge 

 with coffee, bread, and skim milk for breakfast, and ' dumpling ' rather than 

 meat was the principal dinner course. The hours of labour have also been 

 considerably reduced, and overtime is now paid for at about \d. an hour, or 

 is compounded by a payment of about £^1 or f^\. a year. Some women 



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