THE ENGLISH LABOUHER. 97 



community together. We must, therefore, im- 

 prove our own industry at home before we can 

 recommend it as an example to others. 



The principal difference between the food 

 of our English and Scotch labourers lies in the 

 quantity of animal food consumed by the former, 

 and the oatmeal and milk consumed by the 

 latter. In some parts of Scotland a sufficient 

 quantity of animal food is now beginning to 

 be used daily, but generally speaking there is 

 not. On the other hand, the almost total 

 exclusion of oatmeal, and in the majority of 

 cases milk, from the diet of the English labourer 

 is very much against him, and subjects him to 

 many pinching consequences during years of 

 scarcity which otherwise would be greatly 

 alleviated. Many of them with whom we 

 conversed on this subject during the high 

 prices of 1847 appeared sensible of their loss; 

 but they had no opportunity of bettering their 

 condition. What oatmeal is offered for sale in 

 this country is only ground for dogs. No 

 doubt it is used in such a coarse form in some 

 parts of Scotland, Ireland, and the north of 

 England. We are perfectly aware of the fact, 

 but we are also aware that when it is exported 

 H 



