Page 321 - Panjek, Aleksander, Jesper Larsson and Luca Mocarelli, eds. 2017. Integrated Peasant Economy in a Comparative Perspective: Alps, Scandinavia and Beyond. Koper: University of Primorska Press
P. 321
and and labour as resources of an integrated peasant economy in a swedish district
days, primarily in the autumn and winter). Other entries were about shop-
ping, washing, baking and brewing, work at the field, and slaughter.
Mowing and harvest were the most labour-intense work tasks. In 1866,
the mowing period of the three farms was between 20 and 29 days, start-
ing in early or mid-July.1 All available household members were engaged. At
Backåkers, the entire household and temporarily engaged men and wom-
en worked with hay. At Matses both Anders Ersson and his father worked,
making 40 working days. At Hyttbäcken, 200 working days were spent on
hay harvest in 1866, including male family members, farmhands and day
labourers of both sexes.2
In mid-August, work continued with the harvest of rye, wheat, oats
and potatoes until the end of October. The work-days spent on harvest at
Backåkers and Matses were 29 and 33 days, respectively. At Backåkers Erik
Johansson mentioned temporary female workers (1–2) during five days
in addition to the household, and at, Matses only Anders and his father
worked with harvest. At Hyttbäcken the harvest took 47 days, and in total
223 working days were used, including male family members, farmhands
and hired labour.
2.3 Costs for hiring labour
The cost for employing labourers varied with gender, season, and personal
skill. In the county of Kopparberg, men had about double the salary com-
pared to women in 1866, both in the case of day labourers and farmhands
versus maids. Working days during summer was paid 20%–50% more than
in winters (BiSOS 1867–1872). Similar differences in salary between men
and women, and between summer and winter, are shown at the farm level
in the Hyttbäcken farm records.
According to the Book of workers at Hyttbäcken, where all payments
and their monetary value was noted, the labourers at Hyttbäcken were paid
primarily in cash. During the period November 1859 to October 1870, 72%
of the salary depended on cash.3 25% of the payments were in kind, as vari-
1 Mowing period at Backåkers: 26 days (17th July–1st September) Matses 20 days (16th
July–30th August), Hyttbäcken: 29 days (2nd July–17th August).
2 The working days at Matses and Hyttbäcken are excluding women of the household,
since they were not mentioned in the diaries. Normally, though all women partici-
pated in the intense work with harvest.
3 65% of the salary was made as cash, paid directly to the worker or indirectly (paying
something for him/her). Another 7% were payments in types of goods that the farm
first had to buy.
319
days, primarily in the autumn and winter). Other entries were about shop-
ping, washing, baking and brewing, work at the field, and slaughter.
Mowing and harvest were the most labour-intense work tasks. In 1866,
the mowing period of the three farms was between 20 and 29 days, start-
ing in early or mid-July.1 All available household members were engaged. At
Backåkers, the entire household and temporarily engaged men and wom-
en worked with hay. At Matses both Anders Ersson and his father worked,
making 40 working days. At Hyttbäcken, 200 working days were spent on
hay harvest in 1866, including male family members, farmhands and day
labourers of both sexes.2
In mid-August, work continued with the harvest of rye, wheat, oats
and potatoes until the end of October. The work-days spent on harvest at
Backåkers and Matses were 29 and 33 days, respectively. At Backåkers Erik
Johansson mentioned temporary female workers (1–2) during five days
in addition to the household, and at, Matses only Anders and his father
worked with harvest. At Hyttbäcken the harvest took 47 days, and in total
223 working days were used, including male family members, farmhands
and hired labour.
2.3 Costs for hiring labour
The cost for employing labourers varied with gender, season, and personal
skill. In the county of Kopparberg, men had about double the salary com-
pared to women in 1866, both in the case of day labourers and farmhands
versus maids. Working days during summer was paid 20%–50% more than
in winters (BiSOS 1867–1872). Similar differences in salary between men
and women, and between summer and winter, are shown at the farm level
in the Hyttbäcken farm records.
According to the Book of workers at Hyttbäcken, where all payments
and their monetary value was noted, the labourers at Hyttbäcken were paid
primarily in cash. During the period November 1859 to October 1870, 72%
of the salary depended on cash.3 25% of the payments were in kind, as vari-
1 Mowing period at Backåkers: 26 days (17th July–1st September) Matses 20 days (16th
July–30th August), Hyttbäcken: 29 days (2nd July–17th August).
2 The working days at Matses and Hyttbäcken are excluding women of the household,
since they were not mentioned in the diaries. Normally, though all women partici-
pated in the intense work with harvest.
3 65% of the salary was made as cash, paid directly to the worker or indirectly (paying
something for him/her). Another 7% were payments in types of goods that the farm
first had to buy.
319
