416 THE MIDLAND MILK BELT 



sheaves a second time as they were passed to the 

 threshing machine, with the result that he had already 

 been able to sell the pick of his barley for malting at a 

 very good price. 



The farm was heavily stocked : there was a milking 

 herd of Shorthorns of very good quality, the milk being 

 all sold wholesale, though our host for a long time had 

 retailed it in Leicester, but had found himself hardly 

 repaid for the trouble of managing a very detailed 

 business at some distance. He had experienced great 

 difficulties a few years ago with contagious abortion, 

 almost to the extent of driving him out of the milk 

 business, but the disease had run its course and he 

 was then free. He reared and fattened the young 

 stock that were not drafted into the herd, and also 

 bought in stores for winter feeding. An extensive 

 flock of sheep was also kept for the turnips, the lighter 

 land being fit for folding. Leicesters are now but 

 little seen in the county from which they derive their 

 name; they have been almost entirely displaced by 

 Lincolns and Oxford Downs ; indeed, there is not much 

 sheep-raising in the county, where the farmers mostly 

 depend upon flying flocks. In this district rents ran 

 high, our host paid 355. an acre, but all farms were 

 taken up and were in increasing demand. 



As might be expected from the proximity of so 

 many large towns, labour was well paid ; our host's 

 men received 1 6s. to 1 8s. a week, a free cottage 

 (which was reckoned at 2s. a week, though from what 

 we saw of them their economic rent must have been 

 at least 55.), a breadth of potatoes, and whatever milk 

 they wished to buy at 2d. a quart. Our host declared 

 that he would have no objection to the establishment 

 of a minimum wage, for it would justify him in the 

 dismissal of several men whom he now retained on 



