Woods. 
307 
ajji lcultural benefits, accruinc;- to this county, from tlie constant 
residence ot so many of its proprietors, and from the intelligent 
interest they take in the cultivation of the soil. They seem to 
realize the saying of the historian Gibbon, himself a Hampshire 
proprietor and a captain in the county militia, " I thank God I 
was born a gentleman, and, above all, an English gentleman ! " 
IV. Woods. 
Any report on the productions of the soil in this county would 
be incomplete, without some account of its woods and woodlands. 
These are, in the northern and southern, as well as in the midland 
districts, sources of income to the proprietor, scenes of industry 
to the labourer, and pictures of beauty to every spectator. 
Some most striking native Hampshire trees will not, however, 
enter into this notice : not the beech, " the most lovely of all 
Weekly Earnings of Agricultural Labourers in the Unions of England and 
Wales " at each quarter-day. 
The return, however, is for two quarters only, those ending Michaelmas and 
Christmas last, and, as far as regards this county, is as follows : — 
County of Southampton. 
Agricultui'al Labourers. 
Weekly 
Wages. 
Weekly 
Earnings 
by Task- 
work. 
Allowance of Food 
or Drink. 
Michaelmas." 
d. 
s. 
s. 
d. 
Draxford Union .. 
Men 
11 
0 
2.5 
Ale during hay- 
6 
0 
12 
"1 
time and har- 
Children under 16 
None 
vest. 
Andover 
Men 
15 
6 
20 
8 
4 qts. of beer 
while carting. 
6 
0 
7 
6 
2 qts. 
Children under 16 
3 
6 
Same as women. 
Christmas. 
Draxford Union . 
Men 
11 
0 
14 
Ale alloM'ed dur- 
5 
0 
oi'j 
ing harvest and 
Children under 16 
4 
0 
haymaking. 
Andover 
Men 
10 
6 
11 
4 
6>= 
Children under IG 
4 
0 
" As this quarter includes the harvest the average earnings are considerably above those of the 
whole year. 
I" Women and children not employed at task-work except at harvest. 
E.xtra allowances to carters for journeys, and shepherds for extra labour, not included. Little 
work for women at this season. 
I give this return as coming under considerable authority, but I must confess I 
attach little value to it. The Andover Michaelmas wages seem to refer to hay 
and corn harvests, when men are paid for overtime, as already mentioned, under 
" Labour in the Chalk District." 
