CHAP. II.] RUTA BAGA CULTURE. IS? 



1 could not be much with my work-people, I 

 used, in order to try whether they had planted 

 properly, to go after them, and now-and-then 

 take the tip of a leaf between my finger and 

 thumb. If the plant resisted the pull, so as for 

 the bit of leaf to come away, I was sure that 

 the plant was well fixed; but, if the pulll 

 brought up the plant out of the ground ; then 

 I was sure, that the planting was not well done. 

 After the first field or two, 1 had no trouble. 

 My work was as well done, as if the whole had 

 been done by myself. My planting was done 

 chiefly by young women, each of whom would 

 plant half an acre a day, and their pay was 

 ten pence sterling a day. What a shame, then, 

 for any man to shrink at the trouble and labour of 

 such a matter ! Nor, let it be imagined, that 

 these young women were poor, miserable, rag 

 ged, squalid creatures. They were just the 

 contrary. On a Sunday they appeared in their 

 white dresses, and with silk umbrellas over 

 their heads. Their constant labour afforded the 

 means of dressing well, their early rising and 

 exercise gave them health, their habitual clean 

 liness and neatness, for which the women of the 

 South of England are so justly famed, served 

 to aid in the completing of their appearance, 

 which was that of fine rosy-cheeked country- 

 girls, fit r to be the helpmates, and not a burden, 

 of their future husbands. 



