210 BRITISH RURAL LIFE AND LABOUR. 



quite superior wages, privileges were occasionally given. About 

 two- thirds, however, of the farm work in Cumberland was done 

 by men who were "boarded in," and obtained both food and 

 sleeping accommodation in the farmhouses. In some cases food 

 was given with less wages. This was the case in the Wigton 

 Union, where either fifteen shillings in cash formed the entire 

 wages, or nine shillings in cash and food in lieu of the difference. 

 The returns of pauperism gave a comparatively low rate 3-8 

 per cent, of the population. 



DERBYSHIRE. 



It was stated that in this county " an average man could 

 command an average wage of fifteen shillings per week, besides 

 having some potatoes planted for him." Near the mines, how- 

 ever, again showing the beneficial influence of competition, 

 wages went up to as high as seventeen shillings a week. Pauper- 

 ism for the Bakewell Union was returned at the lowest yet quoted, 

 so far as we have gone in our enumeration, 2-4 per cent, of 

 the population. 



DEVONSHIRE. 



The purely agricultural character of Devon is shown by the 

 rate of wages, the " range " being very limited, namely, from 

 eight to nine shillings a week only. In addition to this was a 

 pretty regular allowance of cider the prime drink of the county, 

 made from its more or less (according to the seasons) abundant 

 crops of apples. There were, however, sometimes " perquisites " 

 thrown in, in the shape of " grist corn," food, besides drink 

 during harvest time, firewood also, and sometimes free potato 

 ground. Besides these privileges, it was often customary to 

 give carters and shepherds rent-free cottages. The value of 

 these was usually " reckoned " as from a shilling to eighteen- 

 pence a week. The differences prevailing in the same county 

 in wages and privileges are rather interestingly shown by the 

 Poor Law returns. In the Axminster Unions, wages eight and 

 sixpence to nine shillings and three pints of cider ; in the Barn- 

 staple Union, eleven shillings, without mention of cider ; in the 

 Okehampton Union, wages ten to twelve shillings per week, 

 three pints daily of cider, and potato ground ; and in the Tiverton 

 Union, wages nine shillings, two quarts of cider daily, fuel, and 

 some other but unenumerated privileges. Pauperism was 

 given for the whole county as averaging 57 per cent, of the 

 population. 



DORSETSHIRE. 



Wages were given in this county as eight shillings a week, with 

 a rent-free cottage, or nine shillings without a cottage. " Privi- 

 leges " varied, but are thus described as existing in the Vale of 

 Blackmore : " Some cider only," and " sometimes grist corn, 

 potato ground, or cartage of fuel. These might add two shillings 

 a week to the average wage or nothing." Averaging everything 

 piecework and all included the total earnings of ordinary 



