Population of England and Wales, S^-c, of 1871 and 1881. 107 
creases in the numbers of the labourers in the same degree 
as it appears to have been the cause of the greatest de- 
creases in the numbers of the farmers ; and we must seek 
for some other cause. Was the decrease greatest in those 
counties in which, during the period 1871 to 1881, the largest 
quantity of arable land had been converted into permanent pas- 
ture ? It would occupy too much space, and I should weary the 
readers of the ' Journal ' (if, indeed, my figures have not done so 
already), to compare the decrease in the number of farm- 
labourers with the increase in the acreage of permanent pasture 
in every English county ; but as a test, I will make such com- 
parison for the 6 counties which showed the maximum de- 
crease, (over 15 per cent.,) and for the 4 counties which showed 
the minimum decrease (under 5 per cent.) in the number of 
farm-labourers : thus, — 
Percentage 
Permaxest Pastitee. 
of Decrease 
ol Farm 
Labourers. 
1871. 
1881. 
Increase in 
Percentage 
of 
Increase. 
Acres. 
Acres. 
Acres. 
20-2 
57,147 
62,399 
5,252 
9 
200 
184,271 
203,261 
18,990 
10-3 
Wilts 
16-8 
302,974 
355,925 
.52,951 
17 
Hants 
16-7 
154,982 
199,103 
34,121 
22 
Northumberland 
15-8 
330,207 
418,574 
82,367 
24 
Somerset 
15-C 
505,179 
598,158 
92,979 
18 
0-7 
39,803 
44,075 
4,812 
12 
York(W. E.) .. .. 
2-9 
074,832 
760,095 
01,203 
13-3' 
Worcester 
3-1 
175,251 
211,464 
30,213 
20 
York(N. R.) .. .. 
4-3 
390,134 
455,317 
65,183 
16-7 
These figures hardly bear out the theory that the decrease in 
the number of farm-labourers in any individual county bears 
a corresponding ratio to the increase of permanent pasture in 
such county, for in the two counties — Hunts and Bucks — in 
which the percentage of the decrease of labourers was greater 
than in the rest of the counties mentioned above, the percentage 
of the increase of permanent pasture was less ; and in Worcester- 
shire, where the decrease of labourers was smaller than in any 
county in the above table except two, the increase in permanent 
pasture was greater than in any county except two. 
Nor, again, does the decrease in the number of farm-labourers 
appear to have been the greatest in the mining or manufacturing 
counties, or in the counties which are situated nearest to such 
districts. For only one county (Northumberland) amongst the 
