140 BRITISH RURAL LIFE AND LABOUR. 



or worn only on special occasions, particularly in the case 

 of the women and children. A good deal of information 

 has been received with reference to the amount spent by 

 farm labourers on tobacco, porter, and whisky. As regards 

 the consumption of tobacco, the returns show that the 

 men generally smoke from one to three ounces a week, the 

 majority of correspondents giving the quantity at between 

 two and three ounces. A Local Government Board 

 Inspector in Ulster writes that ' probably three-fourths at 

 all events of the ordinary labourers smoke. Half a pound a 

 month would not be at all an excessive allowance.' Another 

 Local Government Board Inspector in the west of Ireland 

 expresses the opinion that nearly all labourers smoke one 

 ounce of tobacco weekly, at 3d. an ounce. With reference 

 to the expenditure on alcohol, the evidence of the corre- 



rndents is to the effect that the farm labourers generally 

 ik very little. When alcoholic liquor is taken, it is 

 generally porter, and in most districts this is usually only 

 taken on special occasions, such as a fair day, at a market, 

 or on a journey, or when any money is obtained casually. 

 Writing from the west of Ireland, a Local Government 

 Board Inspector says : " Generally speaking, the labourers 

 are sober and steady, so long as they keep out of the towns 

 and small villages. A labourer might consume 35. worth 

 of porter at one fair, but it is to be remembered that he 

 will probably not attend another for three months. As a 

 rule not more than i a year is spent on liquor, if so much.' 

 The estimates of the correspondents as to the amount 

 spent on alcohol naturally vary. One employer in Donegal 

 says that his men spend nothing on drink, while another 

 correspondent in the same county puts the expenditure at 

 from 3d. to 6d. a week. An employer in Cavan thinks 

 that his farm labourers only spend 2S. 6d. on porter in the 

 year. A few correspondents put the expenditure as high 

 as is. a week in their districts ; but, taking the evidence as 

 a whole, the majority of returns give from 3d. to 6d. a week 

 as the amount spent. A good many correspondents state 

 that the expenditure on tobacco and alcohol together 

 amounts to a shilling a week. Farm labourers in Ireland do 

 not, generally speaking, belong to benefit societies ; and Irish 

 villages lack the parish societies, clubs, and charities which 

 so frequently exist in the agricultural districts in England. 



The succeeding account of the food of Irish peasants 

 is not put forward as exhaustive, but as illustrative 

 examples of the ordinary dietary in the various localities 



named : 



PROVINCE OF CONNAUGHT. 



GALWAY AND MAYO. 



WEEKDAYS Breakfast. Tea, hot soda bread. In the 

 poorer districts, Indian meal porridge and milk, tea and soda 



