13 



^60 was paid for the beer given to the men upon that farm the 

 same year, which I need not say, — notwithstanding the greatest 

 possible care, — had a very demoralizing effect upon them, some of 

 them leaving the farm night by night the worse for drink. If we 

 add to the ^60 worth of beer given by the employer, the 

 moderate sum of 1/6 per week spent by themselves in drink and 

 tobacco, it would amount to about ^8 for each of the 15 families; 

 and if laid by year by year at 5 per cent, compound interest, it 

 would in ten years amount to over ;£"100 for each family. I need 

 not say more to prove that intemperance has a very terrible bearing 

 upon the physical, social, moral, and religious welfare of the 

 English agricultural labourer and his family. I trust the time 

 is at hand when all employers will feel it to be their duty to pay 

 in cash instead of giving beer, especially to the boys, and at the 

 same time do all they can to encourage habits of Temperance 

 and Thrift. 



IV. INTEMPERANCE, ITS BEARING UPON 

 AGRICULTURE. 



The reader will have seen by this time that intemperance has 

 a very important bearing upon Agriculture. He will see, (1), how 

 it affects the Landlord in relation to his property, in the increase 

 of his rates and taxes, and in a variety of other ways. (2), how it 

 affects the Tenant, in the loss of time, capital, and mental power, 

 in the increased rates and taxes, trouble, accidents, neglect, 

 inferior labour, and other losses through intemperance. How 

 it affects the markets and prevents his meeting wifh a ready sale 

 for his produce. How this would be altered, if say £50,000,000 

 of the money now spent in drink could be spent in the pro- 

 ductions of the farm. (3), how seriously it affects the poor 

 labouring man and his family, how the interests of landlord, 

 tenant and labourer are bound up together, and what affects one 

 affects all, more or less. Some farmers may say, yes, it is all very 

 well from your point of view, but if we become a temperate 

 nation, what shall we do with our barley 1 This is a matter of 

 some importance, but it is a narrow and somewhat selfish view to 

 take, it is probable that less and less malt will be used year by 

 year, since the tax has been taken off malt, and put upon the beer. 

 Sugar, maize, rice, and other things are already being used ex- 

 tensively. Between 1878 and 1879 the consumption of malt 

 decreased 7,341,812 bushels ; between the same dates the quantity 

 of sugar used in brewing increased 538,461 cwt., and moreover I 

 am persuaded that the practical farmer will be able to dispose of 

 all the barley it is absolutely needful for him to grow, for feeding 

 and other purposes, and the small loss he might sustain by not 

 being able to sell his barley for malting, would be more than 

 balanced by the increased demand for hie other productions. 



"If the people of this country are poor, the only customers of 

 the farmer are poor, and a poor man cannot be much of a customer. 

 Enhghtened self-interest, therefore, ought to make the farmer, and 

 above all, the landlord, a persistent enemy of intemperance. Somo 



