On Spade Husbandry. 395 



one following the other. The digging was thus done more 

 effectually, than by men at one full spit or spadeful, of from 9 

 to 10 inches deep. The common wages paid these girls, was 

 tenpence per day, or L.2 : 4 : 4 per statute acre. This is 1 Is. 

 4d. per acre, more than by men at one spit, but the supe- 

 riority of the girls* work, was well worth the difference. By 

 practice also, the difference would become less, and the ex- 

 pense might probably be reduced to 33s. per acre. The 

 girls worked with quite light spades, made for that purpose, 

 about 9| inches long, 8 inches broad, and weighing, with a 

 light handle, about 4^ Ibs. avoirdupois. Thus women, boys, 

 girls, and feeble old men, who are a useless burden on the 

 community, and whose existence is miserable from inaction, 

 may be employed in the cultivation of the soil, or at least 

 in the easier operations of hoeing, weeding, &c. By this 

 means, many of those miserable objects, who are now pent 

 up in workhouses doing nothing, might be enabled to earn a 

 maintenance ; and if such a measure were generally adopted, 

 there cannot be a doubt, that the poor rates in England, 

 might be considerably reduced. 



In regard to the employment of the poor, in the operations 

 of husbandry, instead of manufacturing labour, it is to be ob- 

 served, that there is this essential distinction in its favour, 

 that by cultivating the soil, food, the great object of human 

 labour, is directly obtained, while by industry of any other 

 kind, it can only be procured indirectly, and by means of 

 exchange. 



8. To what occupations of land trenching is applicable. 

 It has been justly observed, that though labourers by the 

 day, ought not to have land beyond what is requisite for a 

 cottage garden, yet that labourers by the piece, who are 

 hired occasionally by different farmers, persons who are ac- 

 customed to contract for making and repairing roads, or who 

 act as carriers, also millers, and certain country mechanics, as 

 cart and plough makers, ought to have a small possession of 

 land, as a useful appendage to their other occupations. Wea- 

 vers also, who reside in the country, should have small lots, 

 weaving being a sedentary occupation, and requiring occa- 

 sionally field labour for the sake of health. It is desirable al- 

 so, to give lots of land to fishermen, who may often be pre- 

 vented from going to sea by stormy weather, and to whom 

 that advantage may be a great inducement, to settle in situa- 

 tions calculated for carrying on the fisheries. The inhabi- 

 tants of villages and small towns also, derive great advan- 

 tage from the occupation of small lots of land, even though very 



