21 

 HARVEST WORK WITHOUT INTOXICANTS. 



Leighton Pabk, Reading, 



June 11th, 1880. 



* Dear Sir, — Some months ago you asked me to give you an account as 

 to how I was able to get on at harvest work without beer, and as the hay- 

 making time has again come round, perhaps this will be the most appropriate 

 season to furnish you with the information, although 1 must apologise for not 

 having replied to your inquires before. 



About two years ago, after reading a letter of Mr. Bland-Garland's, of 

 Hillfields, in this county, on the subject of "Tea versus Beer," which appeared 

 in the Church of Engl\nd Temperance Chronicle, my mind was made 

 up to discontinue the beer allowance, which up to that time I had made to my 

 labouring people during hay a.id corn harvest ; and 1 have no hesitation in 

 saying that, since 1 gave up the practice, these operations have been carried on 

 more satisfactorily in every way ; certainly so to my bailiff, and I believe 

 also to my labouring people themselves, who seem to prefer the money, and 

 work better and more contentedly. I have since been more free from the 

 many petty annoyances so generally caused by the state of independent 

 swagger which an allowance of a pint of beer every two hours during the 

 day is apt to pr(^mote, and for which those who give it have to thank them- 

 selves. It is done under the impression that the labouring people will have 

 it because it is the custom, and that there is no use in trying to fight against 

 the established usages of the country. But these are what the cause of 

 temperance — when the customs are bad — has most resolutely to contend 

 with ; and in many cases a moderately bold front will show how very 

 mistaken the idea is that such difficulties cannot be overcome. The best 

 proof 1 can give you of this, as regards the harvest beer question, is the 

 answer in his own words, which one of my best labourers, a hale, strong man, 

 gave to the question : How he liked the change from beer, to beer m.oney ? 

 lie said, " I should be a fool not to like ; for I can do very well with two pints 

 of beer a day, which leaves me five pence in money ; and I get tea into the 

 bargain," and as far as I can judge many of my harvesters limit themselves 

 to about this quantity. Those who cannot, or think they cannot, do with- 

 out it, bring it with them, or procure it at meal times ; but they do not, as 

 some fear they would, absent themselves continually from work for the 

 purpose of getting beer. 



Many farmers in this neighbourhood give money allowance of one 

 shilling a day in lieu of beer ; and 1 was surprised to find, when I came to 

 inquire, how many did so, but 1 prefer, and adopt the plan of giving 9d a day 

 in money and as much tea as they can drink. My reason for doing so 

 is that it is an educating process. JNIany labouring people say, and 

 no doubt believe, that they cannot do harvest work without the large 

 quantity of beer which is generally given them, but when the tea is put 

 before them, they soon learn that beer is not the indispensable article they 

 had considered it to be, and although it may still be indulged in as a luxury, 

 it is found not to be a necessity. 



The details of my plan are simple. I began by purchasing in Reading, 

 what Mr. Shackleford, the tradesman from whom I bought it, described as a 

 strong eleven-gallon boiler, with copper flue complete, at a cost of £3 los ; 

 some more rough and ready kind of boiler at less cost might, no doubt, be 

 procured to do the work quite, or nearly as well as mine; but, having made 

 a vicarious purchase, I am proud of my teapot, and often on a hot day, find 

 myself inclining towards it for a drink. 



Our brew of eleven gallons is made at a cost of about 2s. (id., as follows: 

 half a pound of tea at 2s. 6d., Is. 3d. ; four pounds of sugar at 3^d.. Is. 2d. ; 

 milk, about id Total 2s. 6d. Milk is kept on the ground, and added when 

 required; about half of my people prefer it without. The number usually 

 provided for is about twenty -two. and they consume about half-a-gallon a- 

 piece during the day. but the last two seasons have been cool, and in a hot 

 one it would probably be more. The first brew is made early in the morning, 

 and is generally enough : but if more is wanted it is made, for it is essential 



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