Farming  of  Gloucestershire. 
177 
unnecessary  and  should  be  removed  altogether  on  ihe  hills,  and  in  the 
vale  one-half  might  be  dispensed  with — let  us  say  one-third.  Thus 
a further  gain  of  1J  per  cent,  in  the  vale  may  be  effected;  and 
omitting  what  might  be  gained  by  the  removal  of  some  fences  on 
the  hills,  we  have  a total  gain  of  waste  land  equivalent  to  4 
per  cent.,  or  32,000  acres,  which  might  be  easily  reclaimed  and 
brought  into  cultivation,  which,  if  arable,  besides  other  crops, 
would  annually  produce  28,000  quarters  of  wheat,  and  which 
would  increase  the  wealth  of  the  county  by  at  least  100,000Z. 
per  annum. 
The  labourers’  cottages  are  not  more  incommodious  than  else- 
where, and,  when  rented  directly  from  a landowner  or  large 
farmer,  the  rents  are  moderate.  On  many  estates  the  cottages 
are  let  at  from  30s.  to  50 s.  a-year,  each  having  a quarter  of  an 
acre  of  garden,  or  that  quantity  made  up  in  a field  allotment. 
But  I should  be  inclined  to  find  a little  fault  with  the  accommo- 
dation usually  afforded  for  a man  with  a family.  The  cottages 
chiefly  consist  of  one  room  and  pantry  below,  and  two  small 
rooms  upstairs,  sometimes  only  one.  This  is  not  as  it  should  be  ; 
Lord  Sherborne  and  several  proprietors  have  turned  their  atten- 
tion to  the  remedy  of  this  glaring  defect.  Lord  St.  Germans  is 
adopting  the  plan  of  building  double  cottages,  placed  a short 
distance  from  the  village  street,  with  sitting-room,  pantry,  wash- 
house, and  furnace,  &c.,  below,  and  three  bedrooms  over.  In  this 
arrangement  a bedroom  for  the  man  and  wife  is  provided,  and  a 
room  each  for  the  boys  and  girls  of  their  family ; also,  instead  of 
field  allotments,  each  cottage  has  a quarter  of  an  acre  of  land 
attached.  The  cottages  are  more  expensive  than  many  would 
wish  ; but  certainly  superior  accommodation  is  afforded,  and  the 
rents  are  very  low.  It  is  not  desirable  to  have  cottages  too  large, 
but  where  there  is  a family  three  bedrooms  are  requisite. 
The  plan  of  lodging  and  boarding  young  men  in  the  farm- 
house has  long  been  discontinued  on  most  farms  in  Gloucester- 
shire. The  farmer  is  thus  relieved  of  much  trouble  in  providing 
for  his  men  ; but  at  the  same  time  it  is  believed  that  society  has 
suffered  by  the  suspension  of  that  wholesome  moral  restraint 
which  formerly  was  exercised  by  the  master  over  his  men  whilst 
on  his  premises  and  under  his  roof.  After  a certain  hour  the 
young  and  thoughtless  youth  is  left  to  follow  unchecked  his  own 
natural  propensities,  and  does  not  fail  to  meet  at  the  village  ale- 
house every  incentive  to  vice. 
VOT,.  XI. 
14 
