Page:The Victoria History of the County of Lincoln Volume 2.pdf/440

Rh 8 lb. of cake a day, the allowance was gradually increased to 16 lb., so that when sold off in the spring they were three-quarters fat. And what manure they made! Farming on the Lincoln Heath and the opposite range of hills to the Wolds was very similar. A farm of 500 acres having 125 acres of turnips would winter from ten to twelve sheep per acre, that is from 1,250 to 1,500 sheep, and in addition forty or fifty beasts in the straw-yard. About the middle of the nineteenth century the Lincolnshire labourers, who were said to be better paid, better housed, and better fed than those of any other county, were receiving from 12s. to 15s. a week, besides piece-work, such as filling manure, harvesting, etc. Nowadays the labourer earns 15s. a week the year round, added to which he will earn 3s. a week at piece-work—an average of 18s. a week the year round.

The confined men—such as foremen, shepherds, garthmen, who are engaged for the year, live in the cottages attached to the farms, and are expected to do the Sunday work and to work late if necessary—receive on an average 13s. or 14s. a week, with a house rent-free, 30 stones of bacon, and some 20 stones of potatoes. Junior waggoners receive from £12 to £15 a year and board, and senior waggoners up to £24 with board. On most big farms they are boarded with the foreman at a cost of 10s. a week per head. Married waggoners come under the same heading as confined men.

The following are the Government returns for the years 1904 and 1903:—