EARNINGS AT HARVEST. 33 



In the midland counties, apart from the large corn-growing 

 districts, where piecework is prevalent, a fixed sum for the 

 harvest month is often given, frequently about 4, los. to 

 6, or else a higher daily or weekly rate of wages than that 

 ordinarily paid. In the southern and south-western counties 

 all the systems referred to are to be found, except that of 

 contracting for the whole harvest, which is mainly confined 

 to Norfolk and Suffolk. But this arrangement is practically 

 based upon the piecework system, the only difference being 

 that the whole staff undertake to do the work for a certain 

 sum, instead of a certain number of acres being allotted to 

 each man." 



He adds : 



" It is, however, in the chief corn-growing counties in 

 the eastern and part of the midland and southern and 

 south-western counties, where piecework is largely adopted 

 at harvest, that the labourers earn the most harvest money, 

 and generally the largest amounts are earned in the fen 

 districts of Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, and 

 Huntingdonshire. The harvest payments in Norfolk and 

 Suffolk outside the fen districts of the former county, 

 whether made on the system of a lump sum for the whole 

 harvest or on the piecework system, generally amount to 

 about 7 or 7, IDS. per man. In addition, beer is frequently 

 given, or else about three bushels of malt and three pounds 

 of hops, or an equivalent in money. Thus (if we assume 

 the harvest to be completed in, say, four weeks, supposing 

 the weekly rate of cash wages to be twelve shillings a week, 

 about 4, i os. extra will be earned by harvest work. In 

 the fen districts men sometimes earn as much as ^9 to ^10 

 at piecework for a month's harvest." 



This last interesting statement indicates what can be 

 done by a first-rate man, even though only an agricultural 

 labourer. Wages of 2, IDS. a week seem fabulous ; 

 but it is unfortunately only for the brief space of 

 one month that such prosperity happens. " The 

 weather," however, is a factor of great importance, and 

 necessarily largely influences the time during which 

 such money can be earned. Commenting on this factor, 

 Mr. Fox remarks : 



" Harvest earnings, of course, depend a good deal on 

 the weather and the state of the crops. Upstanding crops 

 and fine weather throughout the harvest are favourable 

 for both employers and employed. The employers, owing 



3 



