GLANCING BACK. 313 



HEREFORD. 



Here wages ranged from nine to eleven shillings a week, and, 

 naturally, in so famous a cider county as that of Hereford, a daily 

 allowance of that drink. The allowance, however, also naturally 

 varied in summer and winter three quarts in summer, an 

 appreciably large quantity, and two in winter. To drink eight 

 " half -pints " in winter would seem rather considerable refresh- 

 ment. Cottage rents were from a shilling to eighteenpence a 

 week. It was reckoned that, taking the year through, from a 

 shilling to eighteenpence extra per week could be made by 

 pieceworkers, and at harvest- time when farm work is often 

 done on the piecework principle an extra sovereign was generally 

 given for the periods instead of the piecework rate. Extras, in 

 the shape of perquisites, were uncertain. The union authorities 

 made the following returns of wages : in the Bromyard Union, 

 ten shillings per week, with cider in addition ; in the Hereford 

 Union, from nine to ten shillings per week, with cider ; and in 

 the Ledbury Union, nine to eleven shillings, as well as cider. 

 Pauperism was returned at 5*1 per cent, of the population. 



HERTFORDSHIRE. 



The Agricultural Commissioners return of wages for Herts was 

 from ten to twelve shillings per week, and the Poor Law returns 

 gave them as from ten and ninepence to eleven and sixpence in 

 the Hitchin Union, and eleven and threepence to eleven and 

 sixpence in the Royston Union ; whilst pauperism was returned 

 at 6'5 per cent. 



HUNTINGDONSHIRE. 



The Commissioner who furnished material for the summary now 

 being given did not give us the average wages prevailing in Hunt- 

 ingdonshire ; but the Poor Law returns record them for the St. 

 Neot's Union as from ten to eleven shillings a week ; and pauperism 

 was returned for this county at 5 -2 per cent, of the population. 



KENT. 



Somewhat better rates than many prevailing elsewhere are 

 recorded for the Garden that is, the kitchen or fruit garden of 

 England. In the clay lands of Kent they were given at twelve 

 shillings a week, but in other parts of the county a little more 

 rising, in some localities, to as much as fifteen shillings ; but where 

 piecework arrangements were the custom, the tiller of the soil 

 could earn five or even six shillings a week more. This high rate, 

 however, was practically confined to the hop districts. Accord- 

 ing to the Poor Law returns, the wages for the several unions were 

 given as under : in the Eastry Union, from thirteen to fourteen 

 shillings per week ; in the Faversham Union, fourteen shillings ; 

 and in the Romney Union, fifteen shillings. Cottage rents were 

 rather high in Kent, averaging half a crown a week. 



