tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8569181568013465215.post5358683649692063237..comments2024-03-29T01:52:49.317-07:00Comments on Codlinsandcream2: Life of an Ag. Lab. Part 2Bovey Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13117332471600275100noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8569181568013465215.post-36871759213382138602009-11-07T23:07:20.784-08:002009-11-07T23:07:20.784-08:00Until I escaped from rural Ireland I was an Ag. La...Until I escaped from rural Ireland I was an Ag. Lab - on icy mornings I stood in a bucket of hot water in the parlour to thaw out my feet when the cows were milking.The Pineapple Tarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13010873204702734112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8569181568013465215.post-56054251935639480272009-11-07T21:28:56.843-08:002009-11-07T21:28:56.843-08:00I'm having to admit that I struggled for a few...I'm having to admit that I struggled for a few minutes with the term "Ag Lab" before I got it. In the US census these workers were usually referred to as "farm laborer" or simply "laborer." I think the designations for occupation were rather flexible according to the interpretation of the enumerator. <br />In New England if a year round "hired man" was married, with a family, a "tenant house" was often provided at some little distance from the main farm house. They were often small and rather shabby. Between hired men the farmer's wife would sometimes go in and do a thorough scrubbing and fresh paint and wallpaper. <br />Western ranches provided communal bunk houses for "cowboys". There were several on our property here, tumbling down, when we bought it. They were small and would have housed only one or two people. Iron bedsteads, a tiny wood burning stove, no running water. Bleak!Morning's Minionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01912356455981434029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8569181568013465215.post-39049393457393967112009-11-07T13:35:43.307-08:002009-11-07T13:35:43.307-08:00These two posts are really interesting, like you I...These two posts are really interesting, like you I have many Ag Labs among my ancestors. There's a big difference between the rosy picture drawn y Thomas Hardy and the reality of an Ag Lab's work in winter though there must have been days when life was pleasant. Generally though their days were long and hard I think. Glad you said what a fogger is - I haven't come across that term before.Rowanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13679130612798888266noreply@blogger.com