788 = 522 
The Agricultural Labourer. 
Aucicnti'illace and ot' comfort. It cannot be expected, in villages where eve: 
cottages not kind of property exists — from the hut of the squatter, fdch< 
generally • jj^yg prone bv from the road-side common, to the cheaply ru 
comparable J f:> r ^ i i i • r 
ill accommoda- up tenements oi the speculator — that such a satisiactory state 
tion to moderu things should exist ; but powers have been lately confem 
upon the local authorities by certain Sanitary Acts of Parii 
ment, which give them considerable control even over sin 
dwellings as these ; and in cases where cottages become, fro 
decay or any similar cause, unfit for habitation, they can ! 
closed. It is also the duty of such authorities to provide sai 
guards against contagion and disease, and against the nuisanc 
by which such disorders are propagated. Not only, therefrti 
has the sanitary state of such villages become improved, b 
habits of cleanliness have been enforced ; and if the conditit 
of their inhabitants will not compare with those I have abo> 
described, it is at least improving and hopeful. 
But, in order to make thoroughly plain the social condition 
the labourer, it is necessary to turn to him at a somewhat earl* 
period than that when he becomes the occupier of a cottage, ai 
assumes the responsibility of a householder. In England, t 
young farm-servant usually begins his career as a horseman, ai 
for this purpose he generally leaves home and lodges upon t 
farm where he is employed. In some northern counties it 
the custom for the farm foreman, or bailiff, and his wife to ta 
charge of a number of these young men, and to cook and otlit 
wise provide for them, for which charge they are paid a certa 
Early career of sum per head. At a typical Yorkshire farm described by A 
youths in Jenkins, in the ' Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society ' 1 
or b lie, X8()9^ page 414, some particulars are given of the boarding, k 
of these lads, which may be interesting. It is there stated tl 
" these lads, of whom there are seven at each farmstead, ; 
liired at Martinmas (Nov. 12), and are paid from dl. to 18/. ea 
per annum, according to their ability, length of service, &c., t 
average payment being about 13/. They live with the hir 
who is paid by the occupier of the farm 8s. Gd. per week ea 
for their board. The hinds' cottages are designed specia;) 
with a view to prevent the hind and his family suffering i 
convenience by so many young men living in the house ; and t 
annexed plans " — which are reproduced in this report (Fig. 
— " will show how admirably this has been arranged, t 
portion devoted to the hind and his family being almost entin 
isolated from the living and sleeping rooms appropriated 
the lads. The ' men's kitchen,' it will be seen, contains 
staircase leading to the men's bedroom, which is not accessil 
from the main staircase ; it also contains a copper, and is 
direct connection with the washhouse and pantry." In 901 
