iji STATISTICAL SURVEY 



towns, who might not be able to cut turf, might buy 

 upon cheaper terms, when the bulk of the inhabitant* 

 were in the habit of cutting for themfelvcs. 



Food. Potatoes and oatmeal are the chief articles, 

 which compofe the poor man's food the year round. 

 In the fcvere years of 1800 and 1801, large quantities 

 of barley-meal were ufed, without which half the peo- 

 ple muft have ftarved. Before thofc periods, barley- 

 bread was quite unknown. 



The poorer clafs cannot afford to ufe much butter, 

 being obliged to fell the greater part of it, in order 

 to purchafe neccflaries, which they want, fuch as 

 foap, candles, tobacco, fait, &c. In fummer and au- 

 tumn, milk is chiefly ufed ; the remainder of the fea- 

 fon, herrings are rooft common with the poor. 



Sometimes a pig at Chriftmas may fall to the lot of 

 a family, but this is not often the cafe, unlefs potatoes 

 are plenty. Two or three labourers frequently join in 

 purchafing a cow in November, which generally cofls 

 6/., and in return get il. for the hide and tallow. 



The general prices of food are given in the pre- 

 ceding fecYion, to which I refer. 



Clodthing. Although a good deal of woollen cloth 

 is made up by the farmers for their own confumption, 

 yet a fmall portion of it falls to the lot of the lower 

 clafs. Common frize, bought at the country {hops, is 

 the general cloathing for the common labourer, at leaft 

 for the coat and great coat. This frize is chiefly 



brought 



