58 
Recent Improvements in Haymaking. 
per week in casli, maintaining that cash is the only proper pay- 
ment lor labour. When we begin haym<aking 1 pay 85. per 
week instead of beer for fourteen weeks, which generally finishes 
up the harvest. The labourers provide themselves with a can of 
tea or coffee, which, when necessary, they warm in the back- 
kitchen. 
"AVhcn 1 first adopted the plan I was told I should not find 
men to do my work without drink ; but my experience is quite 
the reverse, as I have never lacked men, although I strictly pro- 
hibit any alcoholic liquors or smoking on the premises." 
Coming farther north, we have been favoured by Mr. Wilson 
(Newlands, near Mansfield, Nottinghamshire) with the following 
accotint, which, though it has more special reference to the corn- 
harvest, still points to results substantially the same : — 
" At the commencement of the season a stock of tea, coffee, 
and sugar is laid in, made up by the dealer into parcels suitable 
for use, according to the quantity required at any given time. 
The proportions are 1 oz. of tea and 7 oz. of sugar (cheap 
lump) to a gallon of water, with half a pint of milk ; or 4 oz. 
coffee, 8 oz. sugar (brown) to about three quarts of water and one 
quart of milk. The apparatus required is simply a coffee-boiler, 
holding from 20 to 30 gallons, and a few tin or earthen vessels, 
of any kind, holding two or three gallons each. The foreman's 
wife has charge of the whole, and makes the quantity required 
three times a-day ; or, in the case of carting late at night, another 
lot is made in the evening. 
" A boy takes it round the fields, to the various parties engaged 
in cutting, &c.. If the quantity is not above 5 or 6 gallons he 
can manage it with two milk-cans and a pair of yokes on his 
shoulders ; but usually he has a donkey with two large vessels 
slung to his sides, holding, when required, fourteen gallons each. 
" The usual staff on the farm is about twenty men and sixteen 
boys, besides two or three men whose work prevents their taking 
a full share of harvest duties. The hay does not require much 
extra help ; but in corn harvest we get twenty to thirty, or even 
more, extra hands. It is positively prohibited to bi'ing any kind 
of intoxicating liquor into the field, and yet these extra men 
(from Derbyshire, Lancashire, Ireland, as well as our own neigh- 
bourhood), have never objected to the rule, or even made the 
slightest complaint. When I have put the question to them, 
they have in many cases at once stated that they felt the better 
for their aljstinence, while none ever hinted that it interfered 
with his working ability. Neither has any man, or party of 
men, on this rule being explained to them, ever hesitated to 
engage themselves. 
