324 Report on the Farm-Prize Competition of 1872. 
clever), could only be induced to begin by tlie promise of a 
liberal allowance of "drink." Instructions to tliis effect were 
accordingly given to tbe proper party, and a request added that 
an account be kept of the measure served out. Twenty-seven 
well-filled pints did our thatcher consume ! and then, with the 
work only half finished, and that badly performed, he reeled, or 
rather crawled, to the kitchen door for more ! This, however, 
may be, and we hope is, an exceptional case ; but, in the dis- 
tricts referred to, the health, happiness, and independence of 
the labouring class are undoubtedly interfered with by the too- 
frequent indulgence in intoxicating drinks. 
On large farms, and especially in busy seasons, the filling of 
the " caskies," or small wooden kegs, almost takes up one 
person's time ; for those doing task-work, as mowing, turnip- 
thinning, &c., equally with the day labourers, expect an allow- 
ance of so much "drink" per acre. Cider, however, is one 
of the natural products of Monmouthshire and certain parts of 
Wales. The soil is, in many places, peculiarly suited to the 
growth of the apple ; for instance, on one farm of 200 acres we 
found 13 acres of thriving orchard-ground ; and it is therefore 
with t e great abuse, and not the temperate use, of this beverage 
that we are inclined to quarrel. Milk being hardly obtainable by 
the poorer classes, cider or weak beer is a convenient substitute ; 
but might not the two quarts measured out to the husband be 
shared with the wife and children at home ? But no : when 
more than once we ventured to suggest this to married men, our 
simplicity only produced a significant smile ! Hodge would 
drink as much more without thinking of those whose domestic 
duties and home-cares may be far greater than his own labour ! 
Some sensible men, be it noted in extenuation, seeing the folly 
of imbibing so much liquor, have asked to be paid, and are now 
receiving, 2>d. per day throughout the year in lieu of cider or 
beer ; and the farmers, generally, would be glad to have this 
perpetual doling out of drink reduced to a money payment. 
Legislative interference seems not unlikely to come to their aid; 
and, if the result be the stopping of all remuneration of labour 
in kind, it will be an invaluable boon to emplojers, and an 
immeasurable source of health, wealth, and happiness, to the 
labourers themselves. 
One word of suggestion as to the future, before we end our 
remarks. Should this system of farm-competition continue in 
favour with the Royal Agricultural Society (and we trust it may 
do so, as it cannot fail to be productive of much good), we would 
strongly urge the desirability of dividing the farms into two i 
classes; say, holdings of over 70 and not exceeding 150 or | 
200 acres, and those of a greater extent than this. Every one 
■will admit the diflTiculty experienced by judges where, as in 
