The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-06-22
Belglan Farm Life.

The farm laborer in Belgium does not
enjoy much comfort. Working much
harder than most men, he is the worst
fed. Rye bread, potatoes, beans, but
termilk, without meat or bacon, Is the
usual fare chicory the constant drink |;
beer reserved for Sundays and fair
days. His wages vary from tenpence
to a shilling, and he could never live
upon It did not all the members Of his
family work without ceasing. When the
days work Is ended, often by moon
light, the father cultiyates his small
field his wife and daughters tako up
the poorly paid lace work, instead Of
the old spinning. wheel, which steam
has superseded and his sons, when
their field work is done, bring up rab.
bits for the London market. Their lit
tie hands pick up every tuft OF heritage
on the roadside, and open up large
trade OF expectation not 10 be despised.
From Ostend alone there come 10 us
/, 200, 900 rabbits every year these are
skinned and cleaned in Belgium, where
the skin Is used for the making Of hats.
Yet, though their life is SO hard, the
towns do not attract the rural popula.
tion. Habit and family traditions bind
them To the plOw while every nine
years, at the renewal OF their lease, the
raising OF the rent tills them with
anxiety and poisons their existence. II
makes them diBtrust all those who are
making inquiry on the state OF agricul-
turo, and dissimulate as TO the fertility
Of their land, and the produce they OBJ
tain from II.
/ Western Flanders is crossed by o
strip OF land which is particularly diti'
cult OF cultivation; until lately 1t was
scarcely inhabited, and covered with
low brushwood and marshy heath. The
reindeer moss enveloped the trees with
layer MS OF white ashes abundance
OF ferns and moss grew, and the sickly
appearance Of other plants gave the
country sterile appearance. But by
means OF the pine tree this land has
also become valuable. About 5000
young trees are planted on an acre at
the end OF seven years these IRE thin.
ned and sold for wood this is repeated
every two years until the trees are
twenty years old, when they begin to
cut them into poles for the hop; ai
twenty-five years they produce props
for mines; at thirty, wood for build,
ings, and at forty the acre will still
have q thousand trees, worth three OIL
four shillings each, the whole paying
very fairly for the expenses.
A few families settle on the spot tc
carry onthe work (; they take q lease o.
o corner OF land OF very low rent, and
husband and wife set TO work aud built
a cabin whi,h they can call their own
The next savings are spent on q goa
aud a few rabbits then they bring NJ
q calf on the grass which grows in thu
wood /; when at last they possess q COW
they are saved from poverty. The mill
is made into butter the manure en-
riches their land; little capital &C
cumulates, and In few years the
laborer becomes u small farmer by de
grees the small population increases
the land is conquered by cultivation
the owner has spent little besides thu
wages. The laborer is assured OF hi
plot for thirty years, and willingl.
spends his time upon IL. Here, doubt
less, under adverse circumstances,
living is made by o family; but wha
kind Of living2 Not what any ordinar.
English artisan, realizing the comfort
procurable by o wage OF pound Il
thirty shillings o week would bo in
| c1;nad tn mt mn with