FARMIJs^G AND ROTATION OF CROPS. G7 



to a labourer a task to be accomplislied for a 

 stipulated sum, it lias been omitted to tie him 

 down to the time at which this task is to be 

 accomplished. It is, in such instances, in the 

 labourer's power to work or not as he likes, and 

 to keep his 'Apiece-work" in hand, if he leaves 

 or neglects it, for some short and, perhaps, more 

 remunerative job offered him by a neighbour. 

 By this he neglects, at harvest time, the reaping 

 or" mowing, or any other job he has undertaken 

 to do, and loses for his permanent employer the 

 golden opportunity of the sunny day. In ' Apiece- 

 work" the labourer should be tied to time, as 

 much as to the amount of money for which the 

 job is to be done. 



Again, in some counties, the labourers A^mock 

 off" on a Saturday at four o'clock; but it is 

 perfectly at the employer's option to insist or not 

 on the old system of twelve hom^s' work for a 

 given amount (if pay. In Dorsetshire, in the 

 vicinity of Alderney Manor, the usual amount of 

 wages varies from eight to ten or twelve shillings 

 a week ; I give twelve, but then I insist on twelve 

 hours' actual work each day, and no ^' short time." 



My servants must work from six till six, Avhen 



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