1909.] 



Agricultural Labour in England. 



421 



The Chambers of Commerce and Agriculture have co-operated in 

 opening a " market " at Magdeburg, in the province of Saxony, which 

 is to last from 15th June till 15th November. The object of this 

 " market "is to attain greater facilities for the sale of fruit by showing 

 thereat only samples, instead of all the fruit being put up for sale 

 as is the custom elsewhere, the principle of sale according to sample 

 thus being introduced to the fruit market. This " market " should 

 prove of great advantage to British importers, more especially as the 

 Chamber of Agriculture for the province of Saxony (address : Land- 

 wirtschaftskammer fur die Provinz Sachsen, 7 Kaiserstrasse, Halle-ou- 

 Saale) is open to recommend trustworthy firms to act as purchasers 

 for such British importers as are not already represented in the 

 neighbourhood of Magdeburg. 



The Board of Agriculture and Fisheries have been furnished by the 

 Board of Trade with the following report, based upon about 210 returns 

 from correspondents in various districts, on the 

 Agricultural Labour demand for agricultural labour in England in 

 in England July. 



during July. There was some irregularity in the em- 



ployment of farm labourers during July, owing 

 to wet weather, which delayed the haymaking. The root crop, however, 

 although somewhat backward, promised a good deal of work, owing 

 to the rapid growth of weeds. There was a fair demand for day 

 labourers, as a rule, and the supply was usually adequate. 



Northern Counties. — In Northumberland and Cumberland there was 

 some irregularity in outdoor employment through wet weather and 

 the backward state of the hay and root crops. Men for permanent 

 situations were reported as fairly plentiful in certain districts of Cum- 

 berland. In Westmorland and Lancashire there was also some inter- 

 ruption by rain. Reports from Yorkshire state that although the 

 weather was showery, employment was fairly regular on the whole 

 during July. The supply of day labourers was usually sufficient, but 

 a scarcity of shepherds is reported in the Doncaster Union. 



Midland Counties. — Correspondents in Derbyshire and Cheshire state 

 that employment was fairly plentiful in haymaking, potato-lifting, and 

 hoeing. According to reports from Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire, 

 the wet weather caused some irregularity of employment among hay- 

 makers. Day labourers were not in much demand, and the supply was 

 generally quite sufficient. Similar reports come from Staffordshire and 

 Shropshire. Work on the land in Worcestershire and Warwickshire 

 was somewhat interrupted by wet weather, but weeds grew quickly, and 

 caused some demand for labour. In Northamptonshire showery weather 

 prolonged the haymaking, and there was a good deal of hoeing to be 

 done. Day labourers were in demand, and in certain districts the 

 supply was insufficient. A scarcity of men for permanent situations is 

 reported from the Brixworth Union. Reports from Oxfordshire state 

 that the haymaking was affected by the wet weather, and some day 

 labourers lost time in consequence. There was a good demand for 

 extra labour, which was fully met by the supply. 



Employment was fairly regular in Buckinghamshire, other work being 



