Page:The agricultural labourer (Denton).djvu/11

 wages of the one are much greater than those of the other, for when the earnings of each are carefully dissected, it will be seen that there does not exist that great difference between the two which there is generally supposed to be. It can, in fact, only arise from those causes which limit his mental abilities, and prevent his increasing the value of his labour, while they depress his status in the social scale—causes which it is the duty of the country to investigate, and do its utmost to remedy.

But before I go into these causes and the remedies which commend themselves to practical and thoughtful men. I will do my best to remove the misapprehensions that prevail as to the value of the farm labourer's occupation and the amount of wages his services command. There is much in the one that affects the other, and no effort to improve the labourer's condition can be successful unless we fully comprehend the circumstances of both. The average rent of farm labourers' cottages at the present moment may be fairly stated to be rather under than over 1s. 6d. per week, which is less than 4l. a year. This rent is quite as much as the majority of old existing cottages are worth, for most of them have but one bedroom, and are wanting in those accommodations which are essential to decency and comfort. Such dwellings have been, and may still be, built for about 50l. each, if constructed of plaster and thatch, without regard to substantiality, and 4l. a year—being eight per cent.—may be considered a full return, if such dwellings are admissible at all. But if we have