1908.] Agricultural Labour in England. 299 



United States. — The Crop Reporting Board of the United States Department of 

 Agriculture at the beginning of June estimated that there was a decrease of '6 per 

 cent, in the area of oats as compared with the estimated area sown last year of 

 31,644,000 acres. The average condition on 1st June was 92*9 as against 81 "6 on 

 the same date in 1907. The acreage reported under barley is estimated at 6,697,000 

 acres, or about 3*9 per cent, larger than that of last year. The average condition 

 was 89 ' 7 against 84 ' 9 last year. 



The Board of Agriculture and Fisheries have been furnished 

 by the Board of Trade with the following report, based on 

 over 200 returns from correspondents in 

 Agricultural Labour various districts on the demand for 

 in England agricultural labour in June : — 



during June. Agricultural employment was generally regular 



throughout June, the weather causing little or no inter- 

 ruption. Hoeing and haymaking were the chief kinds of work for which day 

 labourers were required, and in most districts they were well employed. In a few 

 districts, however, owing to the dry weather, there was less hoeing to be done 

 than usual. 



Northern Counties. — Correspondents in Northumberlatid, Cumberland and 

 Westmorland report regular employment generally during June, and a fair 

 demand for extra labour. Employment was fairly good in Lancashire. In Yorkshire 

 hoeing corn, preparing land for green crops, and haymaking generally provided full 

 employment : in certain districts, however, the backwardness of the root crop 

 lessened the demand for extra labour. In the Patrington Union men for hoeing corn 

 were reported as scarce, owing to the non-arrival of Irish migratory labourers. 



Midland Counties. — Employment was regular in Cheshire, where hoeing, singling 

 turnips and mangels, and haymaking occasioned a full demand for labour. Employ- 

 ment was also regular in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. Hoeing and haymaking 

 provided regular work for labourers in Leicestershire. Reports from Staffordshire 

 and Shropshire state that employment was generally regular, extra labour being in 

 fair demand. The supply of day labourers was usually sufficient. There was a good 

 and constant demand, which was generally met by the supply, for extra labour in 

 Worcestershire and Warwickshire. A scarcity of men for permanent situations was 

 reported in certain Unions. Employment was regular in Northamptonshire, and the 

 supply of day labourers was sufficient. A correspondent in the Wellingborough 

 Union writes : — "The weather has been very favourable for outdoor work, and good 

 progress has been made in securing the hay crop, which requires little labour to get." 

 In Oxfordshire the regularity of employment was somewhat affected in certain 

 districts by the dry weather, which caused less work than usual in hoeing. In 

 Buckinghamshire the supply of extra labour was usually sufficient, but there was some 

 scarcity of men for permanent situations. In Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire hoeing 

 and haymaking provided full employment in most districts. 



Eastern Counties. — Employment was reported as regular in Huntingdonshire and 

 Cambridgeshire. There was a fair demand generally for extra labour in Lincolnshire ; 

 hoeing potatoes, weeding corn, and threshing caused a demand for day labour, the 

 supply of which was reported as insufficient in certain Unions. Hoeing, weeding and 

 haymaking generally provided regular employment in Norjolk and Suffolk ; the 

 supply of extra labour was fully equal to the demand. Outdoor work was regular 

 and plentiful in Essex, and many persons found employment in pea-picking. The. 

 supply of extra labour was generally equal to the demand, but one correspondent 

 mentions that the hay crop was too heavy in places for machinery, and more men 

 were wanted for mowing than could be found. 



