452 On the Reclamation of Peat-Land in the Netherlands. 
have found this plan a great incentive to industry and to habits 
of economy. In some cases, also, they have given a deserving 
labourer a cottage and piece of land rent free for ten years, on 
condition that he brings the land into a proper state of cultiva- 
tion, to the satisfaction of the manager, within a stipulated time, 
and keeps it in a state of good culture during the remainder of 
the period ; but he can be evicted at any time if he infringes 
the Company's rules, and if he dies his family have no claim 
upon the Company for the improvements which he has made, 
or otherwise. In fact, the Company does not surrender, in any 
respect, its proprietary rights, but what it does in this way is 
merely an act of grace. Still, the effect has hitherto been most 
beneficial to the labourers ; some few are even beginning to 
cultivate tobacco on their own account, and to imitate the 
managers in their market-garden operations. 
Results. — Mr. Schellings assured me that he was quite satisfied 
that the labourers on this estate were much better off than the 
peasant proprietors in the neighbouring districts, because the 
former always have money either to spend or to save, and they 
are sober, — originally by compulsion, but now by habit, — 
whereas the peasant proprietors live on the produce of the soil, 
have very little surplus to sell, and therefore very little money 
to buy things not produced on the farm ; while, of the little 
money that they become possessed of, a large proportion is spent 
in drink (Geneva). 
Peat workers. — Against this somewhat rose-coloured picture 
of the condition of the constant labourers on this estate, must be 
placed that of the peat workers who come, as already stated, 
every summer. A good workman cutting peat can earn as 
much as 4s. per diem, but some only gain 2s. Qd. Those not 
sufficiently skilled to do the cutting, can earn from 2s. 6d. to 
3s. 4:d. per diem on other portions of the work of peat-winning, 
while women and boys earn from Is. 3d. to 2s. per diem. It 
must be understood that these high wages are earned only during 
the peat-cutting season, which lasts three months. The migra- 
tory labourers are all men, and they live in small cabins on the 
peat-beds. Each cabin holds from 8 to 12 men, and the Com- 
pany provide them each with a sack of wool as a bed, and a 
blanket as a covering, also certain necessary articles for the 
menage. 
Contrast with other -peat-lands. — The contrast between this 
" Veen " and the reclaimed peat-lands already described is so 
great, that an explanation will naturally be sought for. Mr. 
Schellings declares it to be his opinion that nothing but the 
application of a sufficient amount of capital per hectare is neces- 
sary to enable Hoogeveen, Prince-Peel, and other high-lying 
