APPENDIX III. 379 



nominal rent, his beer at his master's expense, piece- 

 work, gleaning after harvest, etc., which alter his real 

 position very materially. In Gloucestershire, on the 

 Cotswolds, the best -paid labourers are the shepherds, 

 for in that great sheep country much trust is reposed 

 in them. At the annual auctions of shearlings which 

 are held upon the low farms a purse is made for the 

 shepherd of the flock, into which everyone who 

 attends is expected to drop a shilling, often producing 

 5. The shepherds on the Wiltshire downs are also 

 well paid, especially in lambing time, when the 

 greatest watchfulness and care are required. It has 

 been stated that the labourer has no chance of rising 

 from his position. This is sheer cant. He has very 

 good opportunities of rising, and often does rise, to my 

 knowledge. At this present moment I could mention 

 a person who has risen from a position scarcely equal 

 to that of a labourer, not only to have a farm himself, 

 but to place his sons in farms. Another has just 

 entered on a farm ; and several more are on the high- 

 road to that desirable consummation. If a labourer 

 possesses any amount of intelligence he becomes head 

 carter or head fagger, as the case may be ; and from 

 that to be assistant or underbailiff, and finally bailiff. 

 As a bailiff he has every opportunity to learn the 

 working of a farm, and is often placed in entire charge 

 of a farm at a distance from his employer's residence. 

 In time he establishes a reputation as a practical man, 

 and being in receipt of good wages, with very little ex- 

 penditure, saves some money. He has now little 

 difficulty in obtaining the promise of a farm, and with 

 this can readily take up money. With average care 

 he is a made man. Others rise from petty trading, 



