The Labour Bill in Farming. 
93 
fair average, and if the same ratio of production is generally 
maintained. The secret of the low labour bill here lies chiefly, 
no doubt, in the large proportion of land in grass, viz., one-half, 
instead of one-fourth or one-fifth as in the south-eastern counties 
of England. In Forfarshire, as in Aberdeenshire, the wages of 
agricultural labourers have risen rapidly. The farmer draws the 
following pithy contrast between the cost of labour now and 
formerly : — 
30 years ago the money wages were £12 a year. 
20 „ „ „ 18 „ 
4 »» >» >> 24 
At present the money wages are 34 „ 
The men, he adds, are generally engaged by the year ; but 
sometimes are engaged by the half-year. The payments in kind 
consist of an allowance of 2 pecks of meal per week, 1 pint of 
new milk a day, with fire and light in the " bothy." 
s. d. 
The meal, milk, and bothy accommodation are valued at, per week, 6 6 
Present money wages 13 0 
Total weekly wages of Scotch able-bodied labourer .. ..19 6 
" Tradesmen's accounts upon the farm," adds this Forfarshire 
tenant, " have risen much in the same proportion as farm labour. 
So have taxes. Against these items of increased expenditure we 
may set the fact that we have been able to do with fewer hands, 
owing to the introduction of machinery, improved steadings, and 
drainage of land. Thus we have been able to balance income 
against extra expenditure. Twenty years ago, upon the farm of 
300 acres just mentioned, there would have been employed six 
men, two boys, and three women, for the regular work ; whereas 
we now keep four men, two boys, and one woman. The saving 
of labour is more especially felt during harvest, when, at one 
time, 50 hands would have been employed, whereas now not 
more than sixteen in all are employed. To sum up the whole, 
wages have risen one-third, and production has increased in about 
the same proportion. The farm-labourer's position will improve 
still further, if emigration continues and trade prospers." 
This letter suggests several considerations bearing materially 
upon the English view of the labour question. In the first place, 
we see long hirings to be the rule ; whereas in England they are 
the exception, and usually apply only to shepherds and some of 
the stockmen. The Labourers' Unions are said to oppose long 
hirings. As far as I know, they have passed no rule either for 
or against them ; and if the wages are made worth a man's while, 
depend upon it he will engage upon these terms, whether the 
Unions favour long hirings or not. My observation leads me to 
