The Rural Labourer 



ment offered to the more intelHgent youths to 

 encourage them to stay upon the land. 



In times past common lands were to be found 

 all over the country, and the majority of the 

 labouring class had certain common rights. 

 These commons furnished good runs for the 

 labourer's poultry, keep for his few sheep, and 

 even for a cow or two. 



Access to this land was of great value 

 educationally for the reasons I have pointed 

 out, and also as a means of supplementing the 

 low agricultural wage ; above all, as a means for 

 working on to better things. 



It is sorrowful to have to say it, but the 

 labouring man does not now possess the oppor- 

 tunity that he had in days gone by to improve 

 his condition. His wage may have increased 

 somewhat, but all his interest in the land 

 has been removed by the enclosure of the 

 common lands. 



As the agricultural labourer was deprived of 

 direct interest in the land, so he became less 

 intelligent, and a less good worker. 



The incentive to effort produced by holding 

 even a small allotment is most striking, pro- 

 vided that the land is situated in a suitable 

 place. It is astonishing what a large sum a 

 good labourer will succeed in putting by, before 

 he reaches the age of 30, if only he can get 

 hold of a piece of land. 



115 



