OF THE COUNTY OF TYRONE. 143 



CHAP. VI. 



RURAL ECONOMY. 



SECT. t. Prices of Wages t Labour, a 



SEVERAL caufes affeft the rates of wages and 

 provifions. Since the introduction of militia and yeo- 

 men, the value of labour has been confiderably raifed. 

 Alfo, when the linen trade is good, the price of labour 

 is tyre to rife, as moft of the labouring clafs are alfo 

 weavers. In fpring and autumn, labour is always 

 higher than at other feafons. Labour is always higher 

 about towns than in country places; yet moft labourers 

 prefer the latter, as the jobs are generally long and 

 fteady, and provifions are to be had upon more reafon- 

 able terms. 



It may appear fomewhat ftrange, that, when pro- 

 vifions are higheft, common labour is always found 

 loweft, and efpecially if the linen trade be on the de- 

 cline. Singular as this may appear, it is a faft that i 

 fully known, and the principal caufe is obvious : the 



farmer, 



