Page:The farm labourer in 1872.djvu/25

 children; and possibly to that cause may partly be attributed that fine type of agricultural labourer, that race of permanent giants there found, though something also must be due to nationality, and their superior education and thrift; but the elements are not so dissimilar but that like conditions may gradually produce elsewhere like consequences, for it has been observed by competent judges, that this Northern workman, though earning much higher wages than his Southern neighbour, is not an expensive labourer, but rather the contrary, as he does far more and better work.

Now, concerning this allotment of cow lands, it has been found on an estate where many such places exist, that by holding them out as prizes to those labourers who had saved money, who actually had an account at the Savings' Bank amassed by themselves, very considerable inducement was afforded to thrifty habits, and opportunities for investment with a prospect of comparative comfort were held out which indirectly has had a most beneficial effect on all the neighbourhood. This state of things is adverted to in the Report of the Agricultural Commission by the assistant-commissioner, Mr. Edward Stanhope, and such effects as the following, direct and indirect, may be summarized as resulting from the system, if it can so be called.

1. Selection by means of thrift of the best