The Farming of Cheshire. 
87 
connexion is of so delicate a character, and the harmony of it so essential 
to the prosperity and happiness of both, that it ought on no slight grounds 
to be disturbed." 
Rate of Wages. 
The rate of wages varies in different districts. On the north, 
north-eastern, and north-western sides of the county, especially in 
the vicinity of manufacturing or large towns, wages are nearly 
20 per cent, higher than in many parts of the interior, or in the 
south, south-western, and south-eastern districts. In the former, 
there is a greater demand for labour, while cottage-rents and pro- 
visions are higher than in the latter : a better rate of wages is 
therefore required. The average amount, in the former case, will 
be about 125. per week; and in the latter about 10s., including 
harvest-work. A reduction has lately been made in some in- 
stances, during the winter quarters, from 9*. to 8s., but this is not 
general. Many of the labourers in the latter mentioned districts 
have peculiar advantages. The rent they pay for a comfortable 
cottage and garden is about 50s. per annum — seldom more than 3/. 
They have also an acre or two of land at a moderate rent, and are 
thereby enabled to keep a cow ; and they have very frequently the 
privdege of cultivating potatoes on the farm where they are em- 
ployed — the farmer manuring the soil, and doing all the necessary 
team-work, including the cartage of the potatoes to the cottages 
of the labourers, who on their part £nd the sets, hand-hoe and 
dig up the crops, and leave one-half of the produce in lieu of 
rent, (Sec. 
There has been little, if any, reduction in the wages of servants 
hired for the year. 
The wages of head-waggoners range from 10 to 12 guineas per ann. 
„ under-waggoners „ 8 „ 9 „ 
» hoys ... „ 3 „ 4 
„ dairy-maids . „ 12 „ 20 (according to 
circumstances). 
„ under female servants „ 6 „ 8 „ 
A correspondent in the Hundred of Eddisbury says — 
" Wages for labour vary according to the localities. In the immediate 
vicinity of large towns, and not unusually in the neighbourhood of smaller 
ones, wages are higher than in the more rural districts ; and this disparity 
is very obvious in the summer months, even at times of commercial de- 
pression. I have observed that for 15 miles round Malpas (say 5 on the 
Chester side), the rate of wages is lower by at least Gd. per day than within 
the same distance of Xorthwich, and other towns on the north side of the 
county. These remarks refer to married labourers ; but the same observa- 
tions will apply to farmers' servants, male and female. Of the latter, in 
many parts of the county, there is a great scarcity, partly through the 
facility of obtaining situations in towns, and partly owing to additional 
numbers being required inconsequence of improvements on the farms; 
for where a reasonably liberal encouragement has been given to tenants 
