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to the success of the plan that tea should always be forthcoming when asked for. 

 It is placed in the most central part of the ground, always ready to fill the tins 

 or the bottles that are brought to it from different parts of the farm. 



Coffee, ginger-beer, and other non-intoxicating drinks are, 1 understand, 

 tried in some places as well as, or instead of beer, with advantage, and I feel 

 sure that those whe try the experiment of discontinuing the large and de- 

 moralizing allowance of beer which has been customary hitherto, will have 

 reason to be thankful that they have done so. 



Believe me, dear Sir, yours very truly, 



ALEX. W. COBHAM. 

 Mr. J. Abbry. 



From Sir Philip Rose, Bart., Ex-High Sheriff of Bucks. 



Rayners, Penn, Bucks. 



June 23rd, 1880. 



'■^ Dear Sir, — I have much pleasure in replying to your enquiry as to 

 the use of tea instead of beer upon my farm. It was, I think, about six years 

 ago that I unexpectedly went down to the farm in the midst of hay time. 

 An accident had just happened by a man falling off the rick, and I observed 

 the men stupid and sullen, the boys loud and noisy, rough with the horses 

 and pulling them about the head, and the women excited. This led me to 

 enquire into the allowance of beer, and I was appalled at the quantity which 

 it appeared the women and boys were in the habit of drinking. A moment's 

 reflection determined me that if this system was necessary in getting up the 

 hay, I would immediately give up farming ; but I afterwards decided upon 

 adopting the new system, and from that time to this I have never given away 

 a single pint of beer on my farm ; but as 1 fully recognized the necessity of 

 some liquid during the exhausting work of hay time and harvest, I have ever 

 since at my own expense, and without making any deduction on account of 

 it, supplied my labourers with cold tea ad libitum. I generally purchase a 

 chest of good tea at the beginning of the season, which my bailiff's wife has 

 instructions to make in a copper the day previous to its use : I believe that 

 often a sufficient amount is made for two days. This is put into cans which 

 I procured for the purpose, mixed with milk and sugar, and is sent out 

 between ten and eleven o'clock, and then supplied as required during the day. 



The first year the change of system was so successful, that 1 believe little 

 or no beer was sent for by the men, not even at their dinner hour j but it 

 was a novelty at that time, and I received the thanks of the wives at the 

 conclusion of the harvest. They described its effects as having enabled them 

 to save a great deal more money, and that they had been able to get their 

 husbands up without difficulty in the morning. I have since pursued the 

 system with varied success. (Jne year I found it altogether abused : but this 

 was owing to my bailiff having given in to the suggestion of supplying hot 

 tea for breakfast and at other meals, which was exactly contrary to my 

 object ; but 1 am able to state that the introduction of cold tea has practically 

 brought the consumption of beer on my farm during working hours to a 

 minimum, and that 1 am quite satisfied that the labourers do more work by 

 the use of tea than by giving beer. It may be that for a spurt, to accomplish 

 an object within a given space of time, a glass of beer judiciously given at 

 certain times may effect the purpose, though I never attempt it ; but. as a 

 rule, I am satisfied that the men are in better condition at the conclusion of 

 the day, less stupid and sullen, and certainly much better fitted the next 

 morning to resume their labours, than with the old system of beer. Of course 

 much depends on the bailiff working loyally with his employer in carrying 

 out the system. If he is fond of beer, and especially if he ever commits 

 himself by drinking beer with his men, I should have little hope of effecting 

 much good Again, it is important that the tea should be good, with plenty 

 of milk and sugar, and then sent out from a cold cellar as required, and 

 nothing can be more refreshing. 



I calculate that the cost to me is about £5 a year. Of course, if 1 were 

 to make any deduction on this account, the system would fail, but an 



