SMALL RURAL TRADES.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—We who are fated to see the distress which reigns in agricultural districts, and who yet understand that the general exodus from country to towns is to be checked rather than encouraged, cannot but feel much interest in projects such as were discussed last week by the Society for Promoting Village Industries. I own, however, to having felt a (perhaps un- reasonable) disappointment when I read the report of their meetings and found that it was factories and such like large concerns which they proposed to establish, having had, I confess, a vague hope that something smaller and more capable of being immediately set on foot might be suggested.
Evidently we shall have to wait for the carrying-out of these projects. Meanwhile, I do not see why some of us may not do a little towards the promotion of village industries. There might be, and, indeed, there are, such even now, languishing though they may be, partly from the people's lack of enterprise, partly from the difficulty which they find in getting a fair price for their goods. May I take as an instance the "chicken industry " ? Carried on on a small scale, it seems to me an eminently suitable industry for our poor cottagers, who can easily give the constant attention without which Dame Partlett and her chicks never do well. It is, indeed, no uncommon thing for a cottager's hen to hatch all her eggs; I wonder how many amateur poultry-keepers can say the same of their hens. The cottager, then, can rear chickens well enough; it is when she comes to sell them that her difficulties begin, for she is pretty much at the mercy of the " higglers,"— a quality which must, I take it, be strained, if it is to appear at all. I have of late been trying to encourage this chicken industry among the cottagers around, partly by lending out my " broody " hens and giving with them a sitting of eggs, partly by finding customers for chickens and eggs among my London friends. At present my plan has seemed to answer well. The cottagers are very grateful for the better price which they obtain ; and the ladies whom we supply write that the flavour of our fowls is so much better than that of the fowls which they obtain elsewhere, that the plan answers their purpose as well as ours. Shall I descend too much to the level of a begging-letter if I add that I should be glad to hear of more customers, especially for (realk) new-laid eggs ? I must do no more than mention two or three othei industries which I think might be helped,—bee-keeping, rabbit-rearing, and, perhaps, knitting.
Without doubt, such endeavours to help our villagers must cost us both time and trouble,—at any rate, at first. But would not the position of the two or three well-to-do families who are dotted about among failing farmers and miserably-paid men,—would not their position be almost unbearable, were it not for the remembrance that by very reason of their compara- tive freedom from care, they can afford to spend time, and trouble, and thought upon helping their poorer brethren ? Should you think this letter worthy of insertion in your columns, you will much oblige me.—I am, Sir, &c., E. C. T.
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