34 



of foremen or ordinary labourers." Major Browne writes: 

 " I know cases of men farming several farms until they hold 

 an area up to 6000 or 7,000 acres. Generally they get the 

 farms at a lower rent than the landlord will take from a resi- 

 dent tenant." Sometimes, on the other hand, large farms are 

 divided up; the occupiers then dispense with outside help, 

 doing most of the work themselves with the help of their 

 families. 



On the labourers' part, education creates a dissatisfaction 

 with the dulness and monotony of farm work, with the low 

 wages, and the lack of prospect. There is a desire to rise to 

 a better position, and the many openings in towns afford the 

 opportunity of doing so. Higher wages, shorter hours, better 

 opportunities of recreation, and the other attractions of town 

 life draw young men away from the country. Some emigrate 

 to Canada. Major Browne writes : " A boy is kept at school 

 until 13 'or 14 years of age; he gets accustomed to a warm 

 room and dry feet; when he comes out he does not like a 

 cold north-easter with sleet and rain, mud over his boot-tops, 

 and carrying out turnips to sheep." 



YORK (EAST BIDING). Mr. Pearson, referring more particu- 

 larly to the district bordering on the North Riding, writes : 

 kt Most farmers now hire lads by the year, with a foreman who 

 is in many cases too young for the post. The lads ,grow up 

 careless and discontented, leaving farm work as soon as they 

 can qualify for some other vocation. Seven have joined the 

 Police Force lately from this part and a fair number have 

 gone to Canada." The system of education lacks practical 

 instruction and encouragement in farm work. There has also 

 been, until recently, an active demand for labour in towns, 

 and the means of communication have made migration easy. 

 There is a lack of prospect for the labourer and in some parts 

 more cottages are wanted. 



A tendency is noted to work farms more on the Colonial 

 system, i.e., by using more machinery and taking extra farms, 

 which are placed in charge of foremen. 



DIVISION II. 

 (a.) Counties of Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Berks and Han1$. 



KENT. A large amount of arable land has been laid down 

 to grass, requiring less labour; the decrease of the hop area 

 also has materially lessened the demand in hop-growing 

 districts. Labour-saving machinery, such as steam ploughs, 

 self-binders, &c., is now in general use. Mr. Arthur Finn 

 writes : "A large number of men who were labourers are now 

 small farmers. The holdings in many parishes are divided up. 

 The large farmers used to keep a staff of men all the year 

 round : but the small tenant of to-day does nearly all his own 



