Farmimj of Oxfordshire. 
263 
tions and useful improvements, and consider all pro2jess to be 
" stuff," and all inventions to be " nonsense ;" they crawl on in 
the same track their ancestors jogged over a century ago. Jjut 
if they inherit the prejudices of tlie "good old times," they also 
retain their sterling qualities, for they are a hospitable, hard- 
working, and kind-hearted race of men. 
The labourers of Oxfordsldre are upon a par Avith the rural 
populati(m of the midland counties in general : they are not 
remarkable for energy or great activity, nor do they display 
much tact or ability in performing the common work upon a 
farm. The woodmen are distinguished for the dexterity with 
which they handle the axe, and are as good timber-fellers as can 
be found in any part of the kingdom. Common labourers begin 
work at 6 in summer, and at 9 take half an hour for breakfast ; 
they stop only an hour, from 1 to 2, for dinner, and leave off 
work at 6. It would ba easier for the overlooker, as well as for 
the men, if tliey took two hours for dinner; say, from 11 to 1, 
and breakfasted Ijefore coming to work. The half hour for 
breakfast is a great nuisance : when allowed in the short days of 
winter, the men have scarcely arrived before they are olF again 
for breakfast. Ten hours is sufficient time for a man to work in 
a usual way, and though the Oxfordshire labourers pretend to be 
on the farm longer, the extra half-hour is nearly lost in the many 
divisions of the day. Fencing, rick-building, thatching, and 
harvest-work, are neatly performed. Task-work is not very 
common, and, when undertaken, is quite as dear as in other dis- 
tricts where daily labour is higher. Mowing grass-seeds and 
meadows for hay is usually dearly paid for : clover last year cost 
from 2s. 6ff. to 45., and permanent grass from 35. 6rf. to 45. 6(/. 
Turnip hoeing is not well understood, and is executed slowlyand 
inefficiently. The carters and ploughboys are frequently hired 
by the year, and a young carter or two is sometimes lodged by 
the master. Lads of the ages of 15 to 18 years who go to 
plough, receive from 45- to 65. a week and 3/. at Michaelmas, 
Female domestic servants as well as plougliboys are hired at the 
various fairs which are held about Michaelmas. 
There are not many Avomen employed in the field except at 
hay' and corn harvest. The occupation of the poor women in the 
south of Oxfordshire is principally lace-making : it has the 
advantage of keeping the mother at home with her family, but is 
an unhealthy and miserably-paid employment. Since the intro- 
duction of machinery and manufacture of so much cheap lace by 
means of it, a woman must be a skilful hand, and work Aery 
hard for many hours at her pilloAV, to make even 6f/. per day. 
A great many poor Avomen and children are employed at Witney 
in the manufacture of blankets, and in the neighbourhood of 
