180 
The Agriculture of Glamorgansliire. 
dispense with four pairs of horses. This cannot fail to be a 
profitable investment on a farm of that size, where the fields 
are large and otherwise adapted for steam-ploughing. On the 
smaller farms, steam cultivation could only pay on the hire 
system, and it is well known that, whether in the hands of 
individuals or companies, the plan of letting out or cultivating 
by the acre has been an unprofitable speculation as a rule. On 
small farms the fields are also small, and often irregular in shape, 
and ill-adapted for steam ploughing. A somewhat unfavourable 
impression has been formed of steam cultivation, owing to the 
fact that a few years ago some of the worst arable land in the 
county, near to Penarth, was deeply ploughed by steam, and 
instead of this making it more productive it rendered it still 
more barren. The stiff cold clay subsoil has not even yet 
yielded to the ameliorating influences of rains and frosts. A 
portion of it has been planted with timber, and this seems to be 
the best use it could be put to. If any fault can be found with the 
scenery of the Vale of Glamorgan it is on the score of deficiency 
of timber. On the poorest land, timber would surely pay in a 
county where many thousands of tons are annually used in the 
collieries. 
Labour. — The labour question is one which presses rather 
heavily on the farmer. The proximity to large works, docks, 
and railways, where high wages are earned, has the effect of 
drawing off men from the agricultural districts and of increasing 
the wages of those who remain. Married men have in this 
district from 14s. to 15s. per week, with a free cottage and 
garden, and beer and victuals in hay-time and harvest. Single 
men boarded in the farm-house -have from 18/. to 24/. per 
annum, according to ability. The want of sufficient cottage 
accommodation is in many cases greatly complained of. Some 
landlords have put up model cottages on their estates, but they 
are exceptions. On other estates, the old romantic thatched 
cottages are allowed to tumble down, and are not rebuilt. The 
result is that labourers have to go to the nearest hamlet or 
village for house-accommodation, and having to reside some 
distance from their work, time and energy are both wasted in 
travelling to and fro. 
The labour bill on the best-managed farms is from 25s. 
to 30s. per acre, and were it not that an admirable system of 
task-work prevails, it would be much higher. The farmer 
and the labourer both benefit by the practice. Work is 
more expeditiously done, and the servants are encouraged in 
their efforts to earn larger wages. In one case which came 
under my notice, the farmer's son was a participator in 6s. per 
acre for cutting, tying, and stooking a good field of wheat, a 
