AID TO COTTIERS. 29 



to fall back upon, neither money to buy seed, nor skill 

 to use it properly when they got it. A relief committee 

 was organised by the same benevolent individuals, 

 assisted by Mr Murphy as their treasurer. They col- 

 lected subscriptions to a considerable amount, principally 

 from England, which they expended first in purchasing 

 turnip seed, a portion of which was given to each indi- 

 vidual, with directions how to manage it. Inspectors 

 were appointed, who went to each holder, and then paid 

 him in advance for a fortnight's work as laid out to him 

 on his own land, the rate being Id. a-day for each indi- 

 vidual in a family. At the end of the fortnight each 

 person was again visited ; and, if the allotted task had 

 been completed, he was again paid in advance, being at 

 the same time instructed as to the next fortnight's duty. 

 If any one neglected to do his task, he received nothing 

 till it was completed ; and if the same indolence was 

 continued, he was struck out of the list altogether ; but it 

 was scarcely in any instance necessary to resort to this 

 extremity. Nearly four hundred families were thus 

 maintained on their own lands in industry, during all the 

 summer, at a cost of little more than £400 ; and now 

 that the summer is ended, the land which would other- 

 wise have been waste, is carrying crops of turnips, cab- 

 bages, &c, which will be a great help to the poor 

 people during the winter. Being anxious to see whether 

 much real benefit had resulted from this benevolent plan, 

 I visited several of the small holders, occupying an acre 

 or so of land, who had received this assistance, and found 

 them most thankful for the arrangement by which they 

 had so greatly benefited. They had fair crops of 



