EXTRAS AND ALLOWANCES IN KIND. 81 



labourers, although these form quite a small proportion 

 of the agricultural labouring population of Wales. In 

 fact, so important an authority as Mr. Lleufer Thomas, 

 Assistant Agricultural Commissioner, has stated that 

 the total of agricultural piecework in the country is 

 " a most infinitesimal quantity " ; and he explains 

 the reason by the circumstances that " the smallness of 

 the holdings and the general unevenness of the surface 

 form additional obstacles to a very general adoption 

 of the piecework system." 



On large estates only, where men in especial charge 

 of animals are employed, extra cash payments are 

 sometimes given, and, in such cases, the payment may 

 take the form of a shilling a week for winter Sunday 

 work, when the cattle are housed and fed in farm out- 

 buildings. Besides this, extra " journey money " may 

 be given to carters or horsemen, and " lamb money " 

 to shepherds. 



Allowances in kind mostly take the form of the 

 food given to hired men unmarried lodged and 

 boarded in the farmhouses, and to some of the married 

 men residing outside who may get their meals in 

 the farmhouse on weekdays, and consequently receive 

 a rate of cash wages lower pro rata to the quantity 

 and cost of the meals ; or married men, living outside, 

 as stated, may get allowances of free potato ground, 

 the free carriage of fuel, and also a not unimportant 

 factor buttermilk and " litter " for their pigs when 

 these are kept by the men. At harvest, when the total- 

 abstaining Welshman is not the employe, beer is given ; 

 and if not beer, then beer-money ; and possibly the 

 conscience of an abstainer may not prevent him from 

 accepting the cash substitute. Food sometimes is given 

 during harvest to married men " on their own finding," 

 which includes such as have wages paid entirely in 

 cash. 



Cottages do not come into the category of allow- 

 6 



