Cylchgronau Cymru

It is interesting to note that despite a linear decline in the total value of commodities consumed in the house between 1818-22, the actual quantities of both crop and livestock products consumed shows no pronounced downward trend. Accordingly, the decline in total value once again reflects the post-Waterloo price collapse. Overall, not- withstanding a 25 per cent decrease between 1820-1, total meat con- sumption did not fluctuate greatly between years. This would suggest some degree of substitution between meat products, as, for example, in 1819 when increases in mutton and beef consumption compensated for a decrease in the amount of pork eaten in the household. EXPENSES OF THE DEMESNE FARM Assessment of the annual expenses of the demesne farm from the steward's accounts proved to be a rather difficult exercise owing to the problem of isolating those costs which were directly attributable to farm output from other costs concerned with general estate work. The greatest difficulty arose with regard to labour cost, as farm labour was frequently engaged in kennels and stable work, assisting with brewing in the House, bringing the bathing coach from Clarach', and other activities totally unconnected with the daily running of the farm. As far as possible, however, non-farm costs have been eliminated so that Table VI represents the breakdown of specific farm costs between 1818 and 1822. TABLE VI Percentage Distribution of Costs of the Gogerddan Demesne Farm 1818-1822 Hedging/ Limef Miscell- Year Labour Ditching Seeds Dung Cattle aneous Costs 1818 61.2% 5.4% 7.3% 8.9% 13.2% 4.3% £ 676.2 1819 59.4 2.1 2.7 17. 1 10.3 5.0 £ 649.0 1820 75.3 1.8 9.8 13.0 1.4 4.6 £ 510.6 1812 69.2 2.0 7.6 14.2 2.2 4.6 £ 457-2 1821 69.2 2.0 7.6 14.2 2.2 4.6 £ 457-2 1822 74.6 3.5 1.8 16.1 0.0 2.0 £ 414.2 Mean 69.9 3.4 5.8 13.9 5.4 4.1 £ 54* -4 Clearly the outstanding feature of Table VI concerns the high per- centage of the total expenditure attributable to farm wages. Together with two ploughmen and two stockmen, the farm employed seven regular labourers who spent approximately three quarters of their time involved in dung, turnip and lime carting, threshing and winnow- ing. At peak periods of seasonal activity, in particular at the hay, cereal and potato harvests, numerous extra workers were engaged.