Labourers in Husbandry. 83 



nay to 10s. Gd. per day; every day's hiring, taking place at a 

 certain spot, where masters, whose work required haste, out- 

 bid each other, and thus raised the wages to that exorbitant 

 height. The consequence was, that the labourers got drunk, 

 would not work above four days out of the six, spent their 

 money, hurt their constitutions, and contracted indolent and 

 vicious habits, so that their labour was lost to the commu- 

 nity, for at least one-third part of the time, at a most impor- 

 tant crisis ( 7<5 ). The farmers were thence compelled to look 

 for aid to otherdistricts> and even to induce the natives of Ire- 

 land to assist them in getting in their harvests. , 

 8. On training labourers to activity and diligence. It is \ 

 of great importance, to train labourers employed in agri- \ 

 culture, to activity and diligence. In some districts, they \ 

 are proverbial for the slowness of their step, which they 

 teach their horses, whereas, these animals, if accustomed to 

 it, .would move, with as much ease to themselves, in a quick, 

 as in a slow pace. Hence their ploughs seldom go above 

 two miles in an hour^ and sometimes even less ; wRereas 

 where the soil is light and sandy, they might go at the rate 

 of three miles and a half. Farmers are greater sufferers than 

 they imagine, by this habitual indolence of their workmen, 

 which extends, from the plough, to all their other employ- 

 ments ( 77 ), for it makes a very important difference in the 

 expense of labour. Where the land however is stiff", and 

 deep ploughing is necessary, the operation ought not to be 

 too much hurried. 



SECT. VI. Live Stock. 



UNDER the general term live stock, are comprehended, the 

 various sorts of domesticated animals, which are employed 

 by man as instruments, for assisting him in labour, or in 

 converting to his use, those productions of the soil, which 

 are not immediately applicable to his wants, in their natural 

 state. Bakewell has very properly described them as ma- 

 chines, for converting herbage, and other food for animals, 

 into money. But money, in fact, is only the sign of wealth, 

 while live stock are real riches. 



It may be proper to begin with remarking, that by far the 

 largest proportion of the territory of almost every country, 

 is devoted to the breeding and support of live stock. In 

 early ages, these formed the only criterion of wealth. They 

 became of less consequence when the culture of grain was 



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