From a variety of causes, the number of women working in the fields is much less than was formerly the case; thus presenting precisely the reverse state of things to that complained of in towns, where the clerks, &c., say that they are undersold by female labour.  The contrast is rather curious.  The price of women’s labour has, too, risen; and there does not appear to be any repugnance on their part to field-work.  Whether the conclusion is to be accepted that there has been a diminution in the actual number of women living in rural places, it is impossible to decide with any accuracy.  But there are signs that female labour has drifted to the towns quite as much as male—­especially the younger girls.  In some places it seems rare to see a young girl working in the field (meaning in winter)—­those that are to be found are generally women well advanced in life.  Spring and summer work brings forth more, but not nearly so many as used to be the case.

Although the work of the farm begins so soon in the morning, it is, on the other hand, in the cold months, over early.  ’The night cometh when no man can work’ was, one would think, originally meant in reference to agricultural labour.  It grows dusk before half-past four on a dull winter’s day, and by five is almost, if not quite, dark.  Lanterns may be moving in the cowyards and stables; but elsewhere all is quiet—­the hedger and ditcher cannot see to strike his blow, the ploughs have ceased to move for some time, the labourer’s workshop—­the field—­is not lighted by gas as the rooms of cities.

The shortness of the winter day is one of the primary reasons why, in accordance with ancient custom, wages are lowered at that time.  In summer, on the contrary, the hours are long, and the pay high—­which more than makes up for the winter reduction.  A labourer who has any prudence can, in fact, do very well by putting by a portion of his extra summer wages for the winter; if he does not choose to exercise common sense, he cannot expect the farmer (or any manufacturer) to pay the same price for a little work and short time as for much work and long hours.  Reviewing the work the labourer actually does in winter, it seems fair and just to state that the foggers, or milkers, i.e. the men who attend on cattle, the carters, and the shepherds, work hard, continuously, and often in the face of the most inclement weather.  The mere labourers, who, as previously remarked, are usually younger and single men, do not work so hard, nor so long.  And when they are at it—­whether turning the handle of a winnowing machine in a barn, cutting a hedge, spreading manure, or digging—­it must be said that they do not put the energy into it of which their brawny arms are capable.