The Labour Bill in Farming. 
87 
be retained and kept for special work, and thus become adepts 
at it, whereas upon small occupations a man has to do a variety 
of work and is perfect in none. The superior advantages of 
a large occupation, in respect of labour-saving appliances, are 
also shown in the description and character of the machinery 
employed. On a small occupation the use of machinery must 
necessarily be restricted, and many agricultural operations must 
thus be conducted on a small scale and by slow processes. The 
purchase and use of steam ploughs and drills would hardly be 
justified upon a small holding, whereas upon a large one these 
and many other costly implements are almost indispensable. 
They enable the occupiers to finish a large amount of work in a 
short time, without extraneous aid and at a moderate cost. The 
saving of time, in this way effected in farming, is of no small 
moment, especially in busy or ' catching ' seasons." 
For the purpose of any fair comparison between the cost of 
labour on large and small holdings, it is plain that you must 
not only compare land of the same quality, but land farmed upon 
the same system. " Speaking, generally," writes another farmer 
of great experience, " a larger staff of men per acre will be found 
upon large farms than upon small ones. A farmer occupying 
200 acres will not be able to keep a steam-engine for his own 
use. It would require more hands for the profitable working of 
it than he would have at his command. It therefore answers his 
purpose better to hire an engine and men to do his threshing, 
chaff-cutting, and grinding his corn ; whereas a large farmer can 
profitably employ for his own sole use a rteam-engine for thresh- 
ing, chaff-cutting, grinding, and, in some instances, for mincing 
food and cake-breaking. I believe the time will come when we 
shall have machinery for the various operations on the land, such 
as ploughing, &c., of a much more simple kind than exists at 
present. I have not hitherto seen a steam-engine used to save 
money — that is, by doing the work for less money than it will 
cost if I employ my own horses. It may be that, if you break 
up certain kinds of land by steam, you do good to the land and 
save money indirectly. But I want to see a direct saving of 
money from the use of steam-machinery, and believe that such a 
result must be exhibited before the use of such machines becomes 
general. Comparing the cost of labour upon large and small 
farms, I am inclined to think that it will be found less upon the 
former according to the value of the produce, though it may 
amount to as much per acre." 
" The large farmer," writes another correspondent in the 
Eastern Counties, " has many advantages over the small one 
in the saving of labour. He can keep a better staff, and train 
men for certain kinds of work. By being kept to this work 
