88 RURAL ECONOMY OF ENGLAND. 



approximate number of the rural population in the three 

 countries : 



England, 4,000,000, out of a population of 16,000,000 

 France, 20,000,000, 35,000,000 



Ireland, 5,000,000, 8,000,000 



Hence it follows that the rural population in England 

 formed a fourth only of the whole community, in France 

 four-sevenths, and in Ireland two-thirds : distributed over 

 the surface of the soil, the proportions were England, 

 thirty head to one hundred hectares ; France, forty head ; 

 Ireland, sixty. 



These figures explain everything. Although England 

 expended in wages only the equivalent of 50 fraucs per 

 hectare, whilst France and Ireland paid as much, the 

 effective wage would be considerably more in England 

 than in France, and in France than in Ireland, for this 

 simple reason, that it was divided among a smaller number 

 of hands. 



With these data before us, we can now find the mea- 

 sure of the organisation of labour in the three countries. 

 In England, thirty persons suffice to cultivate one hundred 

 hectares, so as to produce equal to 200 francs per hectare, 

 whilst in France forty are necessary for obtaining an 

 average production of 100 francs, and in Ireland 60 ; 

 hence it follows that labour in England was much more 

 productive than in France, and in France than in Ireland. 



These general data are confirmed by facts of detail. For 

 instance, the average wage of a farm labourer in England 

 before 1848 was 9s. to 10s. a-week, or 2 francs per work- 

 ing day ; and in reduced value, 1.60 francs. In the richest 

 districts it rose to 12s., or 2.50 francs per working day, or 

 2 francs reduced value. In the poorer districts it was as 

 low as 8s., or a little more than 1.50 francs per day, equal 

 to 1.25 francs reduced value. 



