LABORERS WAGES. 165 



bit of garden attached (less than a quarter of an acre), is from 

 $15 to $25. In addition, they have sometimes a few perquisites 

 from the farmers who regularly employ them. A great many 

 laborers in winter are without work, and wages are then a trifle 

 less than I have mentioned, as in harvest time they are also a 

 trifle more. The reader will understand that out of this thirty- 

 three cents, which I have supposed to be the average receipts of 

 a laborer per day, he has to pay his rent, and provide food and 

 raiment for his family. Of course his diet cannot be very sump- 

 tuous (the cost of provisions being, perhaps, ten per cent, higher 

 than with us), but I have not learned particulars. 



The wages of farm servants, hired by the month or year, and 

 boarded in the family, are for men, from $45 to $65 a year ; for 

 boys, $15 to $25 ; maid-servants, $30 to $40 ; dairy-maids, 

 greatly varying, say from $50 to $100.* 



It is customary to give all laborers and servants a certain 

 allowance of beer besides their wages. It is served out several 

 times a day, and may be supposed to cost, on an average, ten 

 cents a day for each person. One farmer estimated it at twice 

 that. 



* Wages have since advanced considerably, while provisions have fallen in price. Ag- 

 riculture is nevertheless more profitable, agricultural improvement having been very 

 great. 



