EARNINGS OF SHEPHERDS. LO) 
It will be seen from this table that out of the total number 
of agricultural labourers—namely, 295,306—in the unions 
reported on, 198,590 (or 67°3 per cent.) were in unions where 
there was no change in the predominant rates of wages, and 
96,716 for 32°7 per cent.) were in unions where wages rose, 
the changes varying froin 6d. to 1s. 6d. a week. Much the 
greatest proportion of the labourers whose wages were 
increased received a rise of 1s.a week. The total increase 
in the weekly wages, if spread over all the labourers in the 
unions reported on, amounts to an average rise of 4d. a 
week. 
The greatest number of changes took place in the Eastern 
Counties, Of the 96,716 labourers in unions in which wages 
rose, 30,378 (or 40°7 per cent.) were in these counties. 
it is to be observed that in many cases the rise in Decem- 
ber, 1900, compared with 1899, is to be accounted for by 
wages having remained at their summer level, instead of the 
customary seasonal reduction having taken place in the 
autumn. In the Eastern Counties changes from the summer 
to the winter rates, which are usually made in October or 
November, frequently did not take place until December. 
In some cases wages were not reduced until January, 1901, 
while there are cases where no reduction has yet been made. 
The Northern Counties have been excluded from these 
calculations, as the greater number of labourers there are 
hired by the year or half-year. Wages in these counties in 
1900 showed an upward tendency. 

THE EARNINGS OF SHEPHERDS IN GREAT BRITAIN. 
The Report on the Wages and Earnings of Agricultural 
Labourers,* which was referred to in the September number of 
this Journal, contains much information about the earnings 
and method of payment of shepherds in various parts of 
Great Britain, in respect to which there is apparently greater 
variation than in the case of ordinary labourers. 

* Report by Mr. Wilson Fox on the Wages and Earnings of Agricultural Labourers 
in the United Kingdom. Cd. 346. 
K K 
