364 HARVEST WAGES IN 1900. 
generally favourable, and as much of the corn was light and 
stood well, self-binding machines were largely used. In 
some districts, however, particularly in the north, harvest 
operations were interrupted by rain, and a good deal of corn 
was laid and twisted owing to storms early in August. 
The following Table shows the average cash earnings for 
corn harvest of the men on the farms referred to.— 
It will be observed that the harvest earnings are highest 
in the great corn-growing counties on the eastern side of 
England (Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, and 
Lincolnshire), the average cash earnings per man < being 
47 Ios. 8d. The payments in these counties, generally, 
varied from about £6 10s. to £8, though some men at piece- 
work in the fen districts earned more. 

| 
No. of No. of men 








| 
Average} Average Cash 
GS ede Farms to| employed at duration} Earnings 
Counties. which | Harvest on the of | for Harvest 
i 2 
SOURS arms |Harvest.; per man. 
| relate. reported on. | | 
| i 
| Working! 
: | Days. Ls & 
Eastern Counties - Ae 145 813 25 710 8 
Midland Counties - 2 602 23 | 6 0 7 
Southern and  South- | | | 
Western Counties =ehns9 530 | 23 4 11 Oo 
| | 
Total - - - nel, | 1,945 | 25 | a 25a 

In addition to cash payments, beer or cider is frequently 
given, and sometimes light refreshments such as tea, bread, 
butter and cheese. 
The method of payment at harvest varies in different 
districts. It is, however, in the chief corn-growing centres, 
where the harvest is mainly undertaken by piecework, or for 
a lump sum for the whole harvest based upon the piecework 
system, that the largest amounts are earned. The counties 
where harvest is largely done by piecework are Essex, Nor- 
folk, Suffolk, Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, 
Huntingdonshire, and parts of Northamptonshire, Warwick- 
shire, Nottinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Berkshire, Oxford- 
shire, Sussex, Kent, Hampshire, Worcestershire, Gloucester- 
shire, Wiltshire, and Dorsetshire. 
