COMPARISON OF TIMES. 517 



nearly double in iheir price, as grocery of all kinds, s!)oes, 

 the lictle malt they are enabled to purchase, &:c. that the 

 labourers enjoy but little benefit from their increase of 

 wages. 



There is but little work done by the day in the Nor- 

 folk harvests. The usual method has been, engaging a 

 proper quantity of labourers, in proportion to the number 

 of acres ol corn, allowing five acres of winter corn, and ten 

 acres of summer corn, to a man's share, and giving them 

 such sum, with board and lodging, to finish the harvest; 

 \vhich, if the weather be favourable, is ended in four 

 weeks; frequently, when the iiaivest is early, and the 

 "weaiiicr good, in three, having the assistance of the 

 carters aikl ploughmen kept on the farm. The difference 

 of vi ages 1 find, bv my books, to be one-third increased 

 since the year 1790 ; in which vear I gave il. 13s. per 

 man ; the last harvest 2I. los. per man. The increase of 

 wages I attribute to the recent pra6\ice of the large occu- 

 piero of lands in this county giving 7I. per man, the la- 

 bourers finding their own viif^uals, drink, and lodging: 

 ti.eir wi'^es not liking to have the trouble and fatic;ue of 

 providing provision in their houses, which has compelled 

 thohe who adhere to tlie oM custom to give the increased 

 price. The day-labour 1 have stared. 



It is usual in this county, where labourers are em- 

 ployed as carters or ploughmen, and have the care of a 

 team of horses during the year, to give them the harvest- 

 wages equal to those ret:iined for that purpose, with their 

 board. This is prudent, ns, being so engaged, they have 

 an interest with the re t in ending the harvest as soon as 

 possible ; which, it continued at their common wages, in 

 all probability the business would be retarded. 



The advance in the priie of ihrtshing, between the 

 two years in question, may be attributed to the same 



554 causes 



