80 Labourers in Husbandry. 



quantity of labour thus performed, by the same number of 

 individuals ( 6Q ). 



On the other hand it is contended, that piece- work is not 

 always so durable, nor so well executed ; and that such en- 

 gagements, are a strong inducement to labourers, -to over- 

 work themselves, insomuch that those, who make a practice 

 of engaging in task-work, soon wear themselves out by their 

 extra exertions, and become old men at fifty ( 6l ). 



Contract work, or by the great, is however daily gaining 

 ground ; and in Middlesex, in particular, a moiety or more, 

 of the whole labour in carrying on farming operations, as 

 mowing, reaping, &c. is done by the piece (r*). 



The practice of mowing grass by piece-work, is to be pre- 

 ferred on the following grounds : 1. Because by doing more 

 work, fewer hands are required, at a time when they are 

 commonly much in demand; and, 2. Because, in consequence 

 of such expedition, the object of securing the hay is much 

 sooner accomplished, which is often of incalculable impor- 

 tance ( 63 ). 



In regard to the corn harvest, it entirely depends upon 

 the season and the climate. When the work is done by the 

 day, the week, or the month, it certainly requires attention, 

 to see that the men work properly ; but in harvest, hours 

 are not much considered^ and those who are employed in it, 

 when the weather is favourable, work in general without re- 

 luctance, with moderate encouragement, as long as it is practi- 

 cable ( 64 ). When the harvesting is carried on by piece-work, 

 the farmer must be equally upon the watch, lest the corn 

 should be cut down in a damp state, or the reaping care- 

 lessly executed, or that it should be brought in before it is 

 perfectly dry. Reaping the corn, binding the sheaves, and 

 setting them up to dry, is, however, frequently executed by 

 the acre. The subsequent care of the sheaves, as well as 

 carting them, and making the corn-stacks, is a separate con- 

 cern, which is generally done by the teams of the farmer, 

 under his own superintendence. When corn is reaped by 

 the method called bagging, it is more easily, and readily cut 

 low, than high ; for that reason, and for obtaining more 

 straw, as well as placing the land in better condition for the 

 plough, nearly all the corn is so reaped, in the neighbour- 

 hood of London ( 6S ). 



One great objection to piece-work is, that it is often im- 

 perfectly done, which occasions disputes between the parties. 

 But this difficulty can, in many cases, be easily obviated. 

 Let a specimen be made at the commencement, and a pe- 



