From an economic and political point of View the 1860's appear to have been favorable to the people at dou' West/ Somerset. However there is another aspect to consider. Farmers in F.E.I. suffered crop losses in 1865 caused by early rain and by pests that resulted in widespread rot. (42) In the spring of 1868 farmers were without grain seed, and the government found the situation severe enough that it granted 900 pounds to each county to purchase grain for needy farmers; sixty—four pounds were divided between the farmers in Lots 27 and 28, with a limit of four pounds to a person. (43) The editor of the Examiner placed much of the blame for the shortage of seed on those farmers who kept more cattle during the winter months than their grain supply would sustain. (44) In 1860 four persons, including two widows and an orphan, in Lot 27 received government relief money; one of the widows was a resident of Bou' West. (45)

In 1867 the number of persons on relief in Lot 27 increased

by the addition of two widows; another widow was added in 1868;

the number 1 decreased to five persons in 1869. (46) In the latter years two of the widows were residents of SOu'

West/Somerset.

Clearly, some people in Sou' West/Somerset were suffering economic hardship. The fact that only about one-quarter of the purchase price of farms was paid at the time of purchase in 1868 is also an indication of less than prosperous times. It seems obvious that the cause of this economic difficulty

was the condition of tenancy: thirty-five years as tenants

yielded scant savings.

643.