78 ENGLISH AGRICULTURAL LABOURER. 



" Some years after this occurred," remarked my informant 

 caustically, " I met this same farmer in a lonely spot. I 

 laid hold of him and invited him to have another go at me, 

 but he declined with thanks." 



Simmons contended that cash wages in Kent had dropped 

 from 155. to I2s. during the last five years, and he gave some 

 interesting figures as to the losses from wet and frosty wea- 

 ther. Six labourers kept an account of the days lost in 

 twelve months. These showed an average loss of eighty-five 

 days in wet and wintry weather. Had it not been for emi- 

 gration agents, and the lowering in the price of many com- 

 modities purchased in the shops, the shrinkage in family 

 earnings would probably have brought about serious trouble 

 in rural districts. The custom of baking bread in their own 

 ovens was being dropped in labourers' families, because 

 ovens were not provided in the newer type of cottage and the 

 older ones were falling into decay. Increased machinery 

 had shortened the harvest earnings. Simmons made the 

 statement that the Kentish labourer spent on the average 

 only 6d. a week on beer, " and his Grace is aware," he added, 

 " that the labouring'people in many places look upon beer 

 as food." 1 



1 We get a glimpse at an agricultural labourer's budget with an average 

 family in 1880 from the Parliamentary Report Commissions, 1881, XVI. 

 310. 



18 



It will be noticed that there is no allowance made for church or chapel 

 collection, a newspaper, a postage stamp, a journey in a carrier's cart, or 

 a railway, a glass of beer, or even a doctor's fees. 



Presumably the deficit between the revenue and the expenditure had 

 to be met by the cold hand of charity, for I imagine the extras included 

 harvest money. 



