OF THE COUNTY OF DOWN. 21$ 



under thefe circumftances hired by the day or the week, 

 their wages are from one to two Shillings per day, ac- 

 cording to the feafon and to the work. In the country 

 moft of the farmers have fervants, who live in their 

 houfes, or, if married, in cottages on their farms. In 

 the former cafe they are ufually paid by the half-year, 

 there being a difUncYion between the fummer half-year 

 from May till November, and the winter half-year from 

 November till May ; the wages for the firft about three 

 guineas, for the latter about three pounds, and their 

 diet, &c. Boys are often hired for the fame periods ; 

 their wages vary, from a guinea the half-year through- 

 out all the gradations, until they arrive at the wages of 

 a man. The cottagers are paid partly in money and 

 their diet, and partly by their holdings, which are va- 

 lued according to the fize of their gardens, and the 

 quantity of ground allowed for fetting potatoes and 

 fowing flax; when a cow is grazed, that is feparately 

 agreed for. A holding of this kind is valued from a 

 guinea to two guineas per annum, befides paying for 

 the cow if one is kept, and maintaining her in winter. 

 The labourer is paid about 6\d. per day and his meat, 

 firfl working up his rent; farmers likewife engage fome 

 of their work by ploughing for the lefler farmers, who 

 have no horfes; the ufual rate is five days work of a 

 man for one day's ploughing. Women are alfo en- 

 gaged to reap, by fowing flax-feed for them, the feed 



their 



