352 Condition of the Englisli Agricultural Labourer, 1871. 
or eiglit acres of grass land, witli a sbippon attached, and are thus 
enabled to keep two cows during both winter and summer. Others 
rent a smaller quantity of grass land, which they mow, and graze 
their cows during summer in one of their master's fields, or more 
commonly in the nearest nobleman's or gentleman's park." * Mr. 
Stanhope also says : " In the Western counties and in Rutland a 
few landowners are accustomed to let to some of their labourers 
two or three acres of land, in order to enable them to keep a cow. 
In Cheshire a modification of this plan is found in the 'ley' or 
run for a cow, assigned at a small rent in some villages to those 
labourers who desire it. The inquiries which 1 made into this 
system lead me to form a very favourable estimate of the in- 
ducement to thrifty habits, and of the comfort it afforded." t 
From our own experience in Yorkshire, we can testify to the 
good effects of this custom in providing milk for the children, 
and in encouraging industrious and prudent habits in the 
family generally ; and we may quote a letter from Sir G. O. 
Wombwell in confirmation : " I inclose my agent's letter about 
the cow-keeping. The holdings answer admirably. I find 
when a man has a cow and grass, it makes him settle down and 
take an interest in the village and estate, and the children go 
regularly to school. When I have a cottage and cow-keeping to 
let, I never have any difficulty in getting a first-rate labourer. 
In this way I can build cottages to pay me per cent." And 
his agent, Mr. Smith, thus describes the practice pursued. " In 
the village of Coxwold we let 32 cow-keepings to the cottagers, 
and in Oulston 18, for which they pay 3/. each for the summer 
gait in the cottage pasture from Mayday to Michaelmas ; and 
for their winter keep they each have from 1^ to 2 acres, accord- 
ing to quality, partly in small fields to themselves, which is pre- 
ferred ; and in remaining parts, where the fields are too large for 
one holding, they are staked out in allotments as above, at a rent 
of about 3/., and, with the summer gait added, making 6/. for 
each cow for the year. They generally keep good cows, and it 
is not uncommon for them to purchase meal or linseed-cake in 
addition to the hay and grass." 
Perhaps one of the greatest evils which affect the condition 
of the labourer in the Southern, Western, and South Midland 
Counties, is the practice of giving beer or cider to the men in 
lieu of wages. This custom not only prevents a fair share of 
the wages going for the support of the family, but generates that 
love of drink, which throughout the reports of the Commissioners 
is alluded to as the curse of the labourer. Bishop Fraser says, 
*' I was happy to find in almost every part of the counties which 
* Second Report, 18C9, p. 115. 
t Ibid., p. 27. 
