4 Condition of the Agricultural Labourer, with 
by the increase of produce to which it has given rise : but at the 
same time, it must be admitted, without a corresponding improve- 
ment in the condition of the agricultural labourer. Indeed upon 
him it has had a contrary effect, for the application of more 
capital and skill to the purposes of cultivation, and the consequent 
increase in the size of farms, have tended to increase the distance 
between the farmer and the farm-labourer, elevating the one and 
relatively depressing the other. 
The consolidation of farms, by lessening the number of tenant 
farmers, and especially those of the smaller class, has moreover 
increased the difficulty to the labourer of emerging from his 
position and rising into a higher grade. However industrious 
and provident, however skilled in the ordinary occupations of 
husbandry, he can now hardly hope to raise himself by his own 
efforts to the condition of a small tenant farmer. He may by 
good conduct rise to the top of his class, and become head plough- 
man, head carter, or barnsman ; but he is still a day labourer, and, 
with a few rare exceptions, is practically restricted from rising 
higher. 
Such being the case with the agricultural labourer — the conso- 
lidation of farms, although it has not lessened the fund applicable 
to the payment of wages, nor made the labourer's condition 
actually worse, has made it so relatively, and rendered his 
chance of rising by his own exertions more remote. Since such 
is the case with this numerous and most valuable class of men, on 
whose industry and integrity the profits of the farmer and the 
security of agricultural property so mainly depend, it is surely 
our duty to impart all the improvement of which the labourer's 
condition is susceptible, to strive to increase his comforts, and to 
endeavour by every means in our power to make him happy and 
contented in his position. 
It is, however, essential that whatever is done in furtherance 
of this object should be in accordance with sound principle, for 
unless this is attended to, much evil may be inflicted where 
good only was intended. Anything which tends to divert or 
weaken the labourer's reliance upon his own exertions for the 
support of himself and his family, or that leads him to rely 
habitually upon others, will prove injurious to him in the end. 
By this governing principle every scheme must be tested, and 
whatever militates against it, however promising it may appear at 
the moment, should at once be abandoned as unsafe, if not actu- 
ally pernicious. Happily much may be done within the limits of 
this principle by the judicious landlord and the intelligent farmer, 
for increasing the comforts and improving the condition of their 
labourers ; and some of the means for accomplishing these objects 
will be hereafter stated. 
