TUe Agricultural Labourer. 
787=521 
le work of the farm, and frequently perform tasks which it 
ould severely tax a weakly southern man to execute. They 
't Is. Gd. per diem when employed in ordinary work, and 
.. per diem for twenty days in harvest.* 
The fact that oatmeal is largely consumed by the farm-labourer 
I the north has been already alluded to, and I wish now to 
ipplement that remark by the observation that he almost 
ways keep a cow. About 8/. a year is the present rate paid Cows kept 
the master for this accommodation and for a supply of proper master for 
id sufficient food for the animal the whole year round. As far ^^jt^ ' 
the children of his household are concerned, he is therefore 
most independent of supplies of animal food ; and I cannot 
It attribute some of the fine physical powers of the northern 
ce to the use of this nourishing and strengthening diet. 
;ithing would probably tend more to improve the breed of 
in southern England than a general adoption of this prac- 
e ; but at present it has been very little tried, and it is rarely 
it the peasant of those districts can procure a supply of milk 
) • his children. 
My observations with regard to cottages have principally 
1 ated to those situated upon the farm, and under the direct 
* irge and control of the landlord or his tenant. These, it will 
J gathered, are generally now sufficient for all ordinary require- 
I nts, and on many large properties they are models of neatness 
For the purpose of comparison, I here give an actual agreement for the 
( rent year between a Dorsetshire farmer and his carters or horsemen, taken 
f n the ' Agricultural Gazette ' of October 22, 1877 ; — " This agreement between 
J B. on the one part and C. D. on the other part, that the said C. D. is to serve 
t said A. B. as carter at the Farm from April 6, 1877, to April 6, 1878, 
a is to receive for said service, house, garden, and 20 poles potato lana, 
E lured free; 400 faggots of furze and half a ton of coals, free, and 128. per 
V k : also 15s. extra in lieu of beer at hay-time, 21. extra in lieu of beer for 
hieat time; Is. extra for each 'journey;' Gd. extra per day at threshing with 
8 m machine ; 9d. extra per day when employed sowing corn or manure broad- 
c , and 6d. per day extra when sowing or drilling turnips. That the journeys 
b aken in turns by each carter. That carters will in all cases be required to 
b t their horses by 4 o'clock in the morning, so as to have them fed, groomed, 
a harnessed, and ready for work by 6 o'clock. The ordinary working hours 
w be from 6 o'clock in the morning till 2 o'clock in the afternoon, with half an 
h r for lunch at 10. The bailiff may at his discretion add to the ordinary 
wdng hours in seed time, for which the carters will receive 3d. per hour extra. 
C «rs win be required to groom their horses, and keep the harness in a work- 
in like manner. No carter will be allowed to >\'ork in his garden before 6 o'clock 
ir le afternoon. That if it be known or proven to the bailiflf that any carter 
h; been guilty of neglec ting his horses by not feeding them at the proper time, 
01 y abusing them in anyway, or by making himself incapable of managing 
tl 1 in a proper manner, such offence shall be considered a sufficient reason for 
tbimmtdiate discharge of such carter, and will forfeit his right to all cottage 
ai garden privileges, and the amount of wages that may be due to him at the 
til of such discharge. No regular hours will be kept in hay or harvest time. 
A ;nce from work will in all cases be considered a sufficient reason for stopping 
^1 lay's or days* wages." 
