PREFATORY NOTE. THE HERE is scarcely a class in society at the present time that is not represented more or less directly in the ranks of modern journalism. Setting aside that which may be considered the créme de la créme of professional periodical literature-namely, that which relates to "Law, Physic, and Divinity," we have the "Bookseller," representing the publishing interest; the "Builder" and its associates, keeping us au courant in all matters appertaining to stone and lime; "Engineering" and the "Engineer" require no explanation to indicate their special line, any more than the "Draper" or the "Grocer;" the "Baker's Record," redolent of flour and yeast, and eloquent on hot rolls; "Licensed Victuallers" under the protection of their own "Guardian;" while "Mine Uncle" drinketh in knowledge from the columns of the "Pawnbroker's Gazette." When so much is done to represent "class interests" through the medium of the press, it is only natural to expect that such an important section of society as that which is included under the designation of "Country Gentlemen" would not be forgotten. Consequently, we do find that by no means an insignificant portion of the general as well as the periodical literature of the day is addressed to that class, and devoted to one or more of those points in which Country Gentlemen feel a special interest. Time was when a Country Gentleman's literary researches seldom extended further confined her attention to some treatise which discussed "Housewifrie," and the preparation of those wonderful concoctions with which she treated the ailments of her humble dependents; but the Lady Bountifuls and Squire Westerns of former days have long since passed away; and although ladies are as prone as ever to acts of kindness, and the exercise of a warm sympathy when occasion demands, they are now inclined, and very properly so, to leave the actual treatment of bodily ailments to the regular practitioner. There are so many things now-a-days which press upon the attention of the Country Gentleman that he cannot very well devote himself to any one special object. He may, indeed, have his particular "hobby," but even in that case he is still obliged to turn his attention now and then to other matters. He must know a little of Farming, and even of Architecture and Landscape Gardening-gardening proper being more immediately the lady's care-his "tall ancestral trees" demand that Arboriculture should not, in his case, be one of the occult sciences; he is a Magistrate, and, therefore, some familiarity with Legal matters is indispensable. The Stable and the Kennel are too important adjuncts of his establishment to be overlooked, while they contribute, with other things, to supply him with those healthful amusements to which the gentlemen of this country are universally attached. Some, indeed, manifest stronger proclivities for certain departments more than others. In some cases, for B instance, within our knowledge, the superior condition of the Woods and Plantations on an estate, is owing to the owner finding a source of gratification in making it his special business to attend to their management. Then, doth not the pages of "Coates' HerdBook," and the records of Royal shows and Smithfield clubs, bear witness to the energy with which Country Gentlemen, of all ranks, have striven to maintain the national reputation in the article of British beef and mutton -a patriotic feeling inherent in the British mind, which was vastly stimulated by the sayings and doings of honest "Farmer George." We have sometimes heard gentlemen connected with the country, in the course of after-dinner speeches and farmers' gatherings, express their regret that they knew so little of country affairs; but as those who made the avowal, while allowing that their education on those matters had been neglected, announced their intention of repairing the deficiency with all possible speed, we may reasonably conclude that such cases are exceptional, and likely, we trust, to become more so. gentlemen labouring under such a serious defect, as well as of contributing to the information of those who already take an interest in such matters, THE COUNTRY GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE has been projected, and it is hoped that the bill of fare, as described in the prospectus which has been issued of this undertaking, will ensure a friendly reception for it everywhere. THE COUNTRY GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, besides containing articles on subjects of general interest, will deal with all matters relating to the various departments of Land and Estate Management; Rural Architecture, including Plans for the erection of Mansion Houses, Villas, Ornamental and Ordinary Cottages, Lodges, Farm Buildings and Offices, &c.; the Cultivation of Land, and the Breeding and Feeding of Live Stock; Arboriculture; Laying-out and Formation of Plantations, Roads, Drives, &c.; the Garden and Shrubberies; Field Sports, more especially the "Rod and Gun;" the Domestic Economy of the Country House ; the Duties of the Country Gentleman as a Magistrate, &c., and, generally, every topic of interest to the Country Gentleman and his With the special view, therefore, of assisting Household. POSTSCRIPT. THE Proprietors of the well-known and long-established Journal of Agriculture having observed that the field proposed to be occupied by THE COUNTRY GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE was merely an extension of that which was already filled by it, have arranged with the projectors, that it shall be published in conjunction with the Journal of Agriculture, so that certain departments which have not hitherto occupied a prominent place in it, will henceforth receive more attention. In future, therefore, the Journal of Agriculture will be issued under the title of THE COUNTRY Gentleman's Magazine and Journal of Agriculture. THE COUNTRY GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE JULY 1868. THE CONDITION OF THE RURAL LABOURER. HAT the condition of the Agricultural Labourer is not, generally speaking, in a satisfactory state, no one can deny, but still it is not so bad as to warrant the outpouring of flowery sentimentalism, flavoured with downright abuse of employers of every grade, with which we have been made so familiar of late. There is a practical as well as a picturesque view of the question, and the agricultural world is indebted to Mr Bailey Denton** for the able manner in which he has supported the first named position, and brought his wide experience to bear on the question. The picturesque view is no doubt alluring to a certain class of writers, especially those who do not possess any practical knowledge of the subject, and whose sole object in meddling with it is merely to get up a sensational article where other topics of general interest are scarce. A great deal of misrepresentation has in this way become current; and it is therefore satisfactory when a man of Mr Bailey Denton's experience undertakes the task of setting forth the plain facts of the case, supported by evidence which it is impossible to gainsay. Mr Denton starts with asserting that when the wages earned by the urban and by the rural labourer, respectively, are carefully dis * Vide his paper on this subject delivered before a recent meeting of the Society of Arts. sected, it will be seen that there does not exist that great difference between the two which there is generally supposed to be; and that if the rural labourer is in any way inferior to the urban operative class, it must arise from 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, says Mr Denton, which it is the duty of the country to investigate and remedy. In pursuing his investigation of the subject, Mr Denton proceeded to remove the misapprehensions that prevail as to the value of the farm labourer's occupation, and the amount of wages his services command. It is true that the rate of wages varies in different districts, but his conviction, founded on experience gained in nearly every county in England, is that, "measured by the real value of the services rendered by the agricultural labourers in different parts of England, the prices peculiar to different districts are as high as the return to be gained from those services will sanction." It is "a fallacy to suppose," says Mr Denton, "that the labourers of one district are as good workmen as the labourers of another, and that forthe services of each, when applied to the same. object, the same money should be paid." Every one who has given the slightest atten tion to the subject, from experience of labourers in different districts, will fully endorse Mr Denton's remarks, and agree with him that it is impossible, under present circumstances, to adopt a common standard of wages, as recommended by those who support combinations among agricultural labourers. When it is stated that Mr Denton has been inquiring into the standing wages in nearly every part of England during the last seventeen years, in connexion with his special duty of reporting on the agricultural operations of the General Land Drainage and Improvement Company, it will readily be seen that he has had opportunities for obtaining information such as very few possess, and that any statements which come from him on this subject, must, therefore, be accepted as authoritative. The average weekly wages of the farm labourer he sets down as ranging from 10s. 6d. in the mid-southern and south-western districts to 14s. 6d. in the north-eastern district; the mean average throughout England, of able-bodied men, being 12s. 6d. This, however, is exclusive of extra allowances at hay time and harvest, and all payments for piece work and overtime, as well as the value of various perquisites in the shape of beer, milk, fuel, &c., and, we may add, in many instances, of cottage accommodation rent-free. When the value of these extras is taken into account, along with the direct money wages, Mr Denton considers that the farm labourer gains from 15s. to 16s. per week, taking the mean of England. But even this aggregate does not include every thing, for the farm labourers have an advantage, as compared with town operatives, in the lower rents which they pay for their dwellings, and in having a garden wherein they may grow potatoes and vegetables, articles which cost an ordinary mechanic's family 2s. 6d. a week in a town. It is often the case also that the agricultural labourer is fortunate enough to have a rood of allotment ground-" which," says Mr Denton, "he ought invariably to have"-and this, cultivated after work hours, is sufficient to yield him a return, after payment of rent and seed, of say at least £4 a year, which is rather more than 1s. 6d. a week. Through such means the wages of the agricultural labourer is raised to 19s. or 20s. a week, "independent of what his wife and children may make, and this frequently adds 25 per cent. to his income." Mr Denton does not take into account "the favourable difference in the cost of bread, meat, milk, &c., in the country compared with what it is in towns, nor the benefit our agricultural labourer is said to derive from "keeping a pig," as he is "doubtful whether anything is fairly gained by it." On this last point we entertain no doubt whatever. We know that it is a most important point in favour of the agricultural labourer that, for the most part, he can keep a pig, and even if the value of the carcase does nothing more than cover the cost of food purchased for the use of the live animal, there is the advantage of having a supply of wholesome animal food in the house for the use of the labourer's family as well as of himself. But a pig will do more than this; we have tested the point over and over again, and feel quite satisfied that money expended in extra food for the use of the pig is amply repaid, leaving the meat at a lower cost than it could be purchased from the butcher. There is also the manure for the allotment or the garden to be taken into consideration, and the mere fact of having a pig is a source of interest to every member of the cottager's family down to the youngest toddler. A well-filled bacon-rack is far from being a despicable article in the furnishing of a farm labourer's cottage. By all means, therefore, let him have his pig; and, we would add, fowls also, of a good sort, wherever it is practicable. But, although Mr Denton has shewn that the position of the agricultural labourer is not so bad as it has been represented, still he allows that no one can say it is quite satisfactory. With the profits of farming as low and uncertain as they are, he considers that it must be acknowledged that the only way to justify an increase of labourers' wages is by rendering the value of the labour greater than it now is. Education is the first |