West Riding of Yorkshire. 
311 
land of these moor districts, so as to bring it into a proper tilth, and 
to completely eradicate the heather, it would, if well laid dovm 
with a proper selection of permanent grasses, make good pasturage 
for young stock ; and, probably, with a little attention, in a few 
years become really good grass-land, and capable of carrying a 
considerable number of both beast and sheep. 
If, in alluding to the condition of the agricultural labourer of 
the West Riding, we say that there is, perhaps, no district in the 
kingdom in which he is better paid, better housed, and better 
cared for, it would only be doing common justice both to him and 
his employers ; but I believe, if we go one step further, and say that 
he is in many respects better off, and more completely independent 
than they are, the truth will not have been exceeded. The general 
wages of the common labourers are from 14s. to 16s. per week; 
and in those occupations requiring somewhat more of judgment 
and skill in manipulation — in drainage, for instance — they expect 
to earn 18s. per week, and upwards. In the cheapness and 
excellency of fuel throughout almost the whole Riding they 
])Ossess a very great additional comfort and advantage over those 
of their class in many of the more southern counties ; and which 
certainly fully compensates for the higher house-rents which they 
pay in the North. The women and the older children generally 
obtain as much employment, both on the farms and in other ways, 
as they can spare time from their domestic occupations to 
attend to. Their wages are usually from Sd. to Is. per day, most 
commonly the latter. From the number of applications from 
this Hiding, and from the county generally, for advances under 
the drainage Acts, there is every probability of the able-bodied, 
who are capable of such work, being fully employed for some 
years to come. And it is not only these drainage- works, but 
many other proprietors are draining extensively ; and all who 
desire to let their land or retain good tenants, must do the same ; 
for the time is at hand when the first question asked by those 
about to occupy strong land will be, " Is it thoroughly drained?" 
XV. — On Climate in Connection loith Husbandry, with refer- 
ence to a work entitled " Cours d' Agriculture, par le Comte 
de Gasparin, Pair de France (Membre de la Societe Gene- 
rale d' Agriculture, de FAcademie des Sciences, «&c.). 3 vols. 
8vo. Paris. 1846." By the Earl of Lovelace. 
MoNS. Gasparin's work, the substance of which had previously 
been communicated through the medium of lectures before an 
audience of French proprietors who had gone through a course 
of university studies, appeared for the first time in a complete 
form in 1844. The author had been long and favourably known 
