December 31st.

Monday December 31st. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes & J. Howe threshing
Threshed 52 Combs Wheat
36 Barley
5 Beans
8 Oats
2 hrs. Chaff Cutting
J. Friston 8/3

December 30th.

Suunday December 30th. 1923

Frosty
All at home

December 29th.

Saturday December 29th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes clearing up in stackyard
J. Howe in the yards

Memoranda
Dec. 29th.
E. Mayes full week 30/0
J. Howe .. .. 30/0
W. Pearl 2 days 2/6

December 28th.

Friday December 28th. 1923

Frost
At home
E. Mayes getting beet in and clearing up in stackyard
J. Howe yardman
Paid Mr. Leoman 7/0 for coming to Horse

December 27th.

Thursday December 27th. 1923

Frost
Come home from Cotton
E. Mayes Carting muck on to bullace field for tares
J.Howe yardman

December 26th.

Wednesday December 26th. 1923

Snow
Both men jobbing about

December 25th.

Tuesday December 25th. 1923

Frost

Xmas day

December 24th.

Monday December 24th. 1923

Frost
E. Mayes Ploughing in Big Brettenham field
J. Howe yardman
Horse queer (Short)

December 24th.

Monday December 24th.

December 23rd.

Sunday December 23rd. 1923

Frost
Go to Cotton


from Farm Work for the Year
December
Special Crops:
Planting and pruning may be carried on in the orchard, and digging in the hop grounds, to which manures and poles may be carried in frosty weather.

December 22nd.

Saturday December 22nd. 1923

Wet
At home
E. Mayes & J. Howe jobbing about

Memoranda
Dec. 22nd.
E. Mayes full week 30/0
J. Howe .. .. 25/0
W. Pearl 1 day 1/6

December 21st.

Friday December 21st. 1923

Frost
At home
E. Mayes & J. Howe putting straw on Beet & loading up straw

December 20th.

Thursday December 20th. 1923

Frost & Snow
Go to stow
E. Mayes & J. Howe ploughing iin 12 acres
Mr. Kerry take eight Pigs to Stowmarket
Sold at 55/0 each

December 19th.

Wednesday December 19th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes & J. Howe ploughing in 12 acres

December 18th.

Tuesday December 18th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes Ploughing in 12 acres
J. Howe & myself finish getting swedes off

December 17th.

Monday December 17th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes Ploughing in 12 acres
J. Howe & myself take Cow to Mr. Freemans
J. Howe & myself getting swedes off in the afternoon

December 16th.

Sunday December 16th. 1923

Fine
All at home

Farm Work for the Year
December
Stock Farm: (contd.)
Yards and byres and boxes are cleaned out, and the manure carted during frosty weather, when the dung-cart can be worked without injury to the land, heaps of manure being made on properly-prepared layers of absorbent earth in the fields intended for green crops next year. The carts are driven over the heaps as they bring their additions, so as by condensation to check any premature fermentation.

December 15th.

Saturday December 15th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes & J. Howe & W. Pearl finish getting beet off

Memoranda
Dec. 15th.
E. Mayes full week 30/0
J. Howe .. .. 25/0
W. Pearl .. .. 1/6

December 14th.

Friday December 14th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes & J. Howe getting beet off

December 13th.

Thursday December 13th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes ridging in Bullace field
J. Howe taking up Potatoes

from Farm Work for the Year
December:
Stock Farm (contd.):
On dairy farms the production of milk for sale is almost the only work going on. Some butter- making may be continued, and the earliest calves may be coming, but, as a rule, where cheese-making is the ordinary industry, cows are dry, and fed, either in fields or in shippons, on turnips with hay and straw.

December 12th.

Wednesday December 12th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes start ridging in Bullace field
J. Howe taking up Potatoes

from Farm Work for the Year
December
Stock Farm (contd.):
Sheep folded on turnips should receive ample dry food along with the cut turnip in the troughs, and ewes scattered over the grass fields require additional food, especially dry food, along with a few turnips or cabbages. Pigs should be sold as they fatten, and the larger stores with the sows, after their third litter, should be put in to fill up the blanks.

December 11th.

Tuesday December 11th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes ploughing in 12 acres
J. Howe taking up Potatoes

December 10th.

Monday December 10th. 1923

Frosty
At home
E. Mayes & J. Howe ploughing in 12 acres

December 9th.

Sunday December 9th. 1923

Frosty
All at home

from Farm Work for the Year
December

Stock Farm:
Cattle in stalls are kept warm and dry and clean and well fed, cow stock being treated as to food according to their condition, whether dry or yielding milk, and fatting stock being fed better and better as they are getting fat.

December 8th.

Saturday December 8th. 1923

Frosty
At home
E. Mayes & J. Howe ploughing in 12 acres

Memoranda
Dec. 8th.
E. Mayes full week 30/0
J. Howe .. .. 25/0
W. Pearl 1 day 1/3

December 7th.

Friday December 7th. 1923

Frost
At home
E. Mayes & J. Howe ploughing in 12 acres

from Agricultural Review of the Year 1922
The Government of India, having continued the prohibition of exports of cereals and flour until prospects for coming crops were favourable, now announces that all restrictions on exports of the above products are abolished.

December 6th.

Thursday December 6th. 1923

Frost
Go to Stow
E. Mayes & J. Howe ploughing in 12 acres

December 5th.

Wednesday December 5th. 1923

Frost
At home
E. Mayes & J. Howe Ploughing in barn field

December 4th.

Tuesday December 4th. 1923

Rain
At home

E. Mayes & J. Howe ploughing till Bait time.
Jobbing about in the afternoon.

December 3rd.

Monday December 3rd. 1923

Frosty
At home
E. Mayes & J. Howe ploughing in Barn field

Monday December 3rd. 1923

December 2nd.

Sunday December 2nd. 1923

Frosty
All at home

from Farm Work for the Year
December
Arable Farm:
Horse labour includes ploughing stubbles, ploughing lea for oats, carting lime for the kiln, and marl from pits or trenches to the fields where these are to be applied; also in carting stones to roads, tiles to drains, manures to fields, and grain to market; also in carting from market such feeding-stuffs as your stock require. Drainage work goes on in December, the lowest field on the farm being first done, and a good outfall for the whole area being secured. Roads should be made and mended.

December 1st.

Saturday December 1st. 1923

Frost
At home
E. Mayes, J. Howe & myself finish topping up Shed in Stackyard

Memoranda
Dec. 1st.
E. Mayes full week 30/0
J. Howe .. .. 25/0
W. Pearl 1 day 1/3

November 30th.

Friday November 30th. 1923

Frost
At home
E. Mayes & J. Howe & myself topping up Shed in Stackyard in the morning.
Start ploughing pea land in 12 acres in the afternoon

from Farm Work for the Year
November
Stock Farm:
Cattle in the feeding stalls and sheep in the folds are being fed liberally, where beef or mutton is the end in view.The former are receiving cut or pulped swedes along with chaff, and their cake and meal is being gradually increased up to perhaps 6 or 8 lb. a day. Sheep also may be eating 1 lb. of cake or beans along with their chaff, and perhaps 20 lb. of roots in their troughs daily. In the dairy, as the grass fails, cows may receive hay as fodder in the fields, or be tied up in cow-houses, receiving cabbage or roots along with hay and straw chaff. Cheese-making comes to an end, and the milk of any lately-calved cows, or cows purchased for their winter milk, is sold directly to the consumer, the yield being stimulated by good feeding of all kinds, including grains and cake and meal. Store pigs are fed on turnips and bran, and fatting pigs on turnips, potatoes, and bean-meal.
Special Subjects:
Fences are planted, mended, cut, and laid this month; posts and rails should be repaired. Work in the hop grounds include draining, sorting, and repointing poles, and planting. Osiers may be cut this month. The teazel land receives a shallow digging between the rows of young plants. In water meadows, furrows, surface drains, hatches, etc., are all completed and irrigation commenced by those who have water at command.

November 29th.

Thursday November 29th. 1923

Frost & Snow
Go to Stow
E. Mayes & J. Howe spreading muck on big Brettenham field

November 28th.

Wednesday November 28th. 1923

Frost
At home
E. Mayes & J. Howe finish carting muck on to Brettenham field


from Agricultural Review of the Year 1922
The good returns of India, Canada and the United States have provided 42.8 million metric tons of wheat this season, or 17 per cent over those of 1921. The European deficiency and that in North Africa is thus compensated, and it appears probable that the wheat yield of the whole northern hemisphere will, at the very least, prove equal to that of last year. The European yield of wheat in 1922 is 25.3 million metric tons, or 81 per cent of that in 1921; that of rye is 16.8 million (92.9 per cent of last year's); the barley yield is 11.4 million (102 per cent of that in 1921) and the production of oats is 18.9 million (99 per cent of last year's).

November 27th.

Tuesday November 27th. 1923

Frost
At home
E. Mayes & J. Howe carting muck on to Big Brettenham field

November 26th.

Monday November 26th. 1923

Frost
At home
E. Mayes & J. Howe Carting muck on to Big Brettenham field

November 25th.

Sunday November 25th. 1923

Sharp frost
All at home
Jack & Nellie come over

from Agricultural Review of the Year 1922 (contd.)
Poor results are manifest also in North Africa, where Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Tunis have wheat crops amounting to 68 per cent. of last year's.

November 24th.

Saturday November 24th. 1923

Frosty
At home
E. Mayes & J. Howe start Ploughing Barn field

Memoranda
Nov. 24th.
E. Mayes full week 30/0
J. Howe .. .. 25/0
W. Pearl 1 day 1/3

November 23rd.

Friday November 23rd. 1923

Fine
At home
Men getting Beet off
Mr. Kerry take 6 Comb of Oats to Stowmarket for J. W Saunders at 12/0 Pr. Comb

November 22nd.

Thursday November 22nd. 1923

Fine
Go to Stow
Men getting Beet off

from Farm Work for the Year
November
Arable Farm: (contd.)
Thrashing of all kinds of grain, as straw or corn is needed either for use or sale, is carried on in November and other winter months. The straw may be cut into chaff as it is thrashed, and, with a certain amount of salt added, piled up in the barn for use as food.

November 20th.

Tuesday November 20th. 1923

Frosty
At home
E. Mayes setting tops in Barn field
J. Howe Carting litter, drawing water furrow in corner field, opening some furrows in big Brettenham field and harrowing in wood field in the afternoon

November 19th.

Monday November 19th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes & myself Drilling Wheat in wood field
J. Howe harrowing for same

November 18th.

Sunday November 18th. 1923

Fine
All at home

from Farm Work for the Year
November
Arable Farm (contd.):
Horses may still be ploughing among the corn stubbles this month, those fields intended for beans and peas being ploughed first, and those intended for swedes and turnips last. It is well, too, to select the stiffest soils for early ploughing. Some of the labour of November may be spent in carrying clay or marl or chalk on such lands as would be benefited by them.

November 17th.

Saturday November 17th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes & J. Howe harrowing Pear tree field
E. Mayes make up the day Ploughing on Bullace field
J. Howe make up the day carting litter

Memoranda
Nov. 17th.
E. Mayes full week 30/0
J. Howe .. .. 25/0
W. Pearl 1 day 1/3

November 16th.

Friday November 16th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes & myself Drilling Wheat in Pear tree field.
J. Howe harrowing for same

from Agricultural Review of the Year 1922 (contd.)
It is on account of the disturbed condition of Europe it is still impossible to obtain reliable information regarding the world's crops of wheat, maize, barley, etc. The alterations of boundaries of certain European countries have also rendered comparisons impossible. It is, however, certain that this year's wheat crop from all Europe apart from Russia is less than that of 1921. Prussia is short of bread stuffs and France will not have the quantities of cereals she had in 1921.

November 15th.

Thursday November 15th. 1923

Showerey
At home
E. Mayes & J. Howe finish Ploughing Pear tree field and harrow same

November 14th.

Wednesday November 14th. 1923

Rain
At home
E. Mayes Ploughing in Pear tree field

from Farm Work for the Year
November:
Arable Farm:
Wheat-sowing is carried out as fast as swede and mangel fields are cleared, and it should be finished this month. Mangel wurzel should be harvested before November, pulling and carting them to pits near the buildings where they are to be consumed. Both common and swede turnips may be pitted in the fields where they have been grown, a portion of both, where there is a heavy crop, being carried also to the homestead. Carrots and parsnips should all be dug and housed or pitted in November.

November 13th.

Tuesday November 13th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes & J. Howe Ploughing in Pear tree Field

November 12th.

Monday November 12th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes & J. Howe Ploughing in Pear tree field

November 11th.

Sunday November 11th. 1923

Fine
All at home


Cash Account
November
Receipts
Nov. 1st. 2 Sc. Eggs at 4/10 £0..9s..8d
Nov. 1st. 17 lb. Butt at 2/0 £1..14s..0d
Nov. 6th. 2 Sc Eggs at 5/4 £0..10s..8d
Nov. 8th. 17 1/2 lb Butt at 2/0 £1..15s..0d
Nov. 13th. 1 1/2 Sc Eggs at 5/5 £0..8s..1 1/2d
Nov. 15th. 16 1/2 lb. Butt at 2/0 £1..13s..0d
Nov. 20th. 1/2 Sc Eggs at 5/5 £0..2s..8 1/2d
Nov. 22nd. 16 lb. Butt at 2/0 £1..12s..0d
Nov. 27th. 2 1/4 Sc. Eggs at 5/5 £0..11s..11d
Nov. 29th. 15 lb. Butt at 2/0 £1..10s..0d

November 10th.

Saturday November 10th. 1923

Showerey
At home
E. Mayes & J. Howe jobbing about

Memoranda
Nov. 10th.
E. Mayes full week 30/0
J. Howe 5 days 20/10
W. Pearl 1 day 1/3

November 9th.

Friday November 9th. 1923

Snow
At home
E. Mayes jobbing about
J. Howe at home

November 8th.

Thursday November 8th. 1923

Frost
Go to Gislingham
E. Mayes & J. Howe jobbing about in the morning, harrowing Wood field for Wheat in the afternoon

November 7th.

Wednesday November 7th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes & myself Drilling Wheat in crown field
J. Howe harrowing for same

November 6th.

Tuesday November 6th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes & J. Howe finish Ploughing in Beans

from Agricultural Review of the Year 1922 (Scotland, contd.)

The number of horses on farms was reduced by 5,200 to 211,400, the decrease in the number of foals being 2,900 or nearly 23 per cent.
Pigs were increased by 4,900 to 150,000 as opposed to the large reduction of 209,000 in England and wales.

November 5th.

Monday November 5th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes & J. Howe Ploughing in Beans

November 4th.

Sunday November 4th. 1923

Fine
At home
Edith go to Brettenham

from Agricultural Review of the Year 1922

Cattle rose by 2,300 and numbered 1,145,400, cows and heifers in milk or in calf increasing by 8,600 to 451,600 in spite of a reduction of 6,300 in the number of heifers in calf. Two-year old cattle declined by 29,200 to 199,000, but yearlings numbered 250,000 against 232,000 last year and calves 226,000 against 221,000 in 1921.

November 3rd.

Saturday November 3rd. 1923

Windy
At home
E. Mayes & J. Howe Ploughing in Beans

Memoranda
E. Mayes full week 30/0
J. Howe .. .. 25/0
W. Pearl 1 day 1/3

November 2nd.

Friday November 2nd. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes & J. Howe ploughing in beans

November 1st.

Thursday November 1st. 1923

Showerey
Go to Gislingham
E. Mayes Ploughing headlands in crown field
J. Howe Ploughing in beans
Both men jobbing about in the afternoon

October 31st.

Wednesday October 31st. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes finish ploughing headlands in corner field & drilling & harrowing same
J. Howe Ploughing in beans

October 30th.

Tuesday October 30th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes & myself finish drilling barley
E. Mayes harrowing & start ploughing headlands in same field
J. Howe Ploughing in beans

October 28th.

Sunday October 28th. 1923

Fine
All at home

from Farm Work for the Year
October
Special Subjects:
It is well to begin in October, and maintain throughout the year, a strict record of all receipts and payments. Farm accounts, therefore, are a special subject for October. Hop picking is completed in October. Young teazels may be transplanted from the seed-beds 16 inches apart, on a wheat stubble once ploughed and harrowed. Gorse, cutting every alternate row in successive winters, may be cut and crushed for cattle food. Water meadows are being prepared for winter flooding by making fit all surface furrows.

October 27th.

Saturday October 27th. 1923


Fine
At home
E. Mayes & J. Howe Ploughing in Beans

Memoranda
Oct. 27th.
E. Mayes full week 30/0
J. Howe .. .. 25/0
W. Pearl 1 day 1/3

Ocotber 26th.

Friday October 26th. 1923

Showerey
At home
E. Mayes & J. Howe Dressing Winter Beans in the morning
Ploughing them in in the afternoon

October 25th.

Thursday October 25th. 1923

Fine
Go to Stow
E. Mayes & myself putting in headlands in winter oat field.
E. Mayes harrowing in corner field for Barley
J. Howe Ploughing in Winter Beans

October 24th.

Wednesday October 24th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes & J. Howe finish ploughing in corner field
& start ploughing winter beans in

Farm Work for the Year
October
Stock Farm (contd.)
Sheep may be folded on turnips or rape, or receive them in the meadows; and lambs, too, may be put on turnips by the middle of the month, receiving some chaff of hay and a small allowance of cake. Horses are on full work, and must receive their full allowance of corn. The rams may be put with the ewes in October.

October 23rd.

Tuesday October 23rd. 1923

Wet
At home
E. Mayes take 5 Comb of Wheat & 5 Comb of Oats to Stowmarket for J. W. Saunders
J. Howe ploughing in the morning
in the barn in the afternoon
Wheat 19/6
Oats 12/0

October 22nd.

Monday October 22nd. 1923

Showerey
At home
E. Mayes finish Ploughing headlands in oak field.
J. Howe Ploughing in corner field.
E. Mayes take 2 pigs for Mr. Baker to Rattlesden 2/6

October 21st.

Sunday October 21st. 1923

Showerey
At home

from Farm Work for the Year
October
Stock Farm (contd.):
Store pigs may be fed in yards or sties on mangels or carrots that have run to seed, along with a little meal and steamed turnips. The sow should not be allowed access to the boar this month; she goes with young 16 weeks, and it is important that her first litter should not be earlier than April. Fatting pigs get the small potatoes from the field, steamed, along with 5 or 6 lb. of meat.

October 20th.

Saturday October 20th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes take 15 Comb of Peas to Mr. Squirrels Bildeston
J. Howe & myself Carting litter
W. Pearl take young Sow to Mr. Spalls
£4..0..0

Memoranda
Oct. 20th.
E. Mayes full week 30/0
J. Howe .. .. 25/0
W. Pearl 1 day 1/3
Bought Gilt from Mr. Tingay £5..0..0

October 19th.

Friday October 19th. 1923

Showerey
At home
E. Mayes start Ploughing headlands in oak field take 15 Coomb of Barley to Mr. Williams & get Colt shod
J. Howe Ploughing in corner field

Farm Work for the Year
October
Stock Farm: Feeding cattle are brought into their stalls or yards, and fed on cut turnips, along with hay chaff and oil-cake or meal. Cows, too, may be brought in at night, receiving green food in their mangers. Cheese making is drawing to a close.

October 17th.

Wednesday October 17th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes harrowing for oats in the morning. Drilling Oats in the afternoon.
J. Howe on Double Plough in the morning, harrowing for Oats in the afternoon.

October 16th.

Tuesday October 16th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes harrowing for winter Oats
J. Howe on Double Plough in corner field

October 15th.

Monday October 15th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes & J. Howe shutting up furrows in oak field in morning & start Ploughing corner field

from Farm Work for the Year
October
Arable Farm (contd):
Potatoes may be harvested in October, either by the plough or spade, and sold as they are dug, or pitted in long, narrow heaps on dry ground, which can afterwards be thatched and covered with earth. Stubble ploughing is October work, and, if clean, those fields may be manured before ploughing which are to receive spring beans, early peas, carrots, and parsnips, and mangels.

October 14th.

Sunday October 14th. 1923

Fine
All at home
Jack & Nellie, Mr. & Mrs. Barker came over
Baby Christened, Brettenham Church

October 13th.

Saturday October 13th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes take two horses to Blacksmith and getting swedes in
J.Howe flashing in oak field

Memoranda
Oct. 13th.
E. Mayes full week 30/0
J. Howe .. .. 25/0
W. Pearl 1 day 1/3

October 12th.

Friday October 12th. 1923

Wet
At home
E. Mayes & J. Howe shutting up furrows & weighing up 15 Comb of Peas

October 11th.

Thursday October 11th. 1923

Fine
Go to Stow
E. Mayes & J. Howe Carting Straw into Barn in the morning.
Ploughing headlands round wood field in the afternoon
Sold 15 Coomb of Peas at 21/9
15 .. Barley .. 7/0 to Mr. Squirrell

October 10th.

Wednesday October 10th. 1923

Showerey
At home
E. Mayes fetch Waggon from Hessett Sale in the morning
J. Howe on Double Plough in the morning
Both men Dressing Seed Oats in the afternoon

from Farm Work for the Year
October
Arable Farm (contd.)
Winter beans may be sown in October on any stubble that has been prepared by ploughing and manuring to receive them. Winter vetches may be sown during October, some having been sown during September also for successions in May and June. Sow half a bushel of rye per acre along with three bushels of the vetches.

October 9th.

Tuesday October 9th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Myes & myself ploughing with Colt in oak field
J. Howe on double plough

October 8th.

Monday October 8th. 1923

Fine
Go to Hessett sale
E. Mayes J. Howe & myself breaking Colt in the morning
E. Mayes on Double Plough in the afternoon
J. Howe flashing

October 7th.

Sunday October 7th. 1923

Fine
Go to Gislingham myself

Cash Account
October: Receipts

2nd. 8 1/4 Eggs 3/2 £1..6s..7 1/2d
4th. 7 Butter 1/10 12s..10d
9th. 7 1/2 Sc Eggs 3/6 £1.. 6s..3d
11th. 7 Butter 1/10
16th. 5 Sc. Eggs 4/- £1..0..0
18th. 10 Butter 2/- £1..0..0
23rd. 3 3/4 Sc Eggs 4/5 16s..6 1/2d
25th. 13 Butter 2/- £1..6s..0d

October 6th.

Saturday October 6th. 1923

Fine
Go to Haughley
E. Mayes & W. Pearl meet Colts at Haughley Fox
J. Howe on Double Plough

Memoranda
Oct. 6th.
E. Mayes full week 30/0
J. Howe .. .. 25/0
W. Pearl 1 day 1/3

October 5th.

Friday October 5th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes & myself mending places
J. Howe on Double Plough in oak field

from Farm Work for the Year
October
Arable Farm (contd.):
The land may be moist when sowing wheat, though not so wet as to be poached by the horses. The furrows should be cleaned out by plough and spade, giving free exit to all surface water after the seed has been harrowed in.

October 4th.

Thursday October 4th. 1923

Windy
Go to Stow
E. Mayes take Black Boar to Stowmarket Sold for £3 bought another young Boar £3..15..0
J. Howe opening furrows & setting tops in Oak field

October 3rd.

Wednesday October 3rd. 1923

Showerey
At home
E. Mayes & J. Howe take 25 Combs of Barley to Mr. Squirrell at Bildeston at 19/6

October 2nd.

Tuesday October 2nd. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes & J. Howe myself & Mr. Kerry finish carting muck for Winter Beans on Big Brettenham field
77 loads

October 1st.

Monday October 1st. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes & J. Howe myself and Mr. Kerry carting muck for Winter Beans

from Farm Work for the Year
October:
Arable Farm:
Wheat-sowing is one of the principal operations of the month. Clover and bean stubbles having been ploughed are ready for the seed, which should be "pickled" before sowing. It is well to use the fork to dig out patches of couch, either before ploughing or during the process. Five or six pecks of seed per acre suffice.

September 30th.

Sunday September 30th. 1923

Fine
All at home
Jack & Nellie come over with Eric & Nora

September 29th.

Saturday September 29th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes & J. Howe W. Pearl & myself carting muck for Winter Beans

Memoranda
Sep. 28th.
E. Mayes full week 30/0
J. Howe .. .. 25/0
W. Pearl 1 day 1/3

September 28th.

Friday September 28th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes & J. Howe Ploughing Clover Land

from Agricultural Review of the Year 1922 (Scotland contd.)
Ewes increased by 53,000 to 2,868,000 and lambs by 17,000 to 2,750,000, whilst other sheep declined by 57,000 to 1,053,000, giving an increase of 13,000 in the total number of sheep.

September 27th.

Thursday September 27th. 1923

Fine
Go to Stow
E. Mayes Ploughing Clover Land
J. Howe harrowing for Winter Beans in Big Brettenham field
Sold 25 Coombs of Barley at 19/6 to Mr. Squirrell

September 26th.

Wednesday September 26th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes Ploughing Clover land
J. Howe harrowing land for Winter Beans
myself flashing

September 25th.

Tuesday September 25th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes Ploughing Clover land
J. Howe spreading muck in the morning
& myself. J. Howe flashing in the afternoon

September 24th.

Monday September 24th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes Ploughing Clover land in woodfield.
J. Howe & myself spreading muck in wood field.

September 22nd.

Saturday September 22nd. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes Ploughing in crown field
J. Howe Clearing up Stackyard

Memoranda
Sept. 22nd.
E. Mayes full week 30/0
J. Howe .. .. 25/0
W. Pearl 1 day 1/3

September 21st.

Friday September 21st. 1923

Showerey
At home
E. Mayes take 40 Comb of Wheat to Mr. Hitchcock at 19/6 Per Comb
J. Howe take a Load of corn to Buxhall Mill & jobbing about

September 20th.

Thursday September 20th. 1923

Showerey
At home
E. Mayes & J. HOwe Threshing & Cutting Chaff
Threshed Wheat 58 Comb
.. Barley 70 ..
.. Peas 37 ..
.. Beans 15 ..
.. Oats 63 ..
Chaff Cuttings 2 hrs

September 19th.

Wednesday September 19th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes & J. Howe threshing
borrowed F. Pearl from Mr. Tingay

September 18th.

Tuesday September 18th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes & J. Howe Ploughing in crown field till Dinner
Threshing Wheat in the afternoon

from Agricultural Review of the Year 1922
(Scotland contd.)
As regards live stock, changes in the number of horses, cattle and sheep were similar to those recorded in England and Wales, though the increases in ewes and lambs in Scotland more than counterbalanced the reduction in other sheep.

September 17th.

Monday September 17th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes & J. Howe Ploughing in crown field

September 16th.

Sunday September 16th. 1923

Fine
All at home

from farm Work for the Year
Special Crops:
Hemp is ripe this month, and may be pulled and tied in bunches to dry. Hops ripen in September, and as soon as fully ripe should be gathered quickly. Canary is ready for the sickle after wheat harvest, being cut as soon as the top ears are ripe. In the orchard, pears, apples, and plums may be gathered. Put rams with the ewes in September and earlier, the earliest lambs coming in December and January.

September 15th.

Saturday September 15th. 1923

Fine
At home
E, Mayes finish handle harrowing & start Ploughing in crown field
J. Howe Ploughing in crown field

Memoranda
Sep. 15th.
E. Mayes full week 30/0
J. Howe .. .. 25/0
W. Pearl .. .. 7/0

September 14th.

Friday September 14th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes finish rolling & start handle harrowing in crown field
J. Howe finish skimming for Winter Beans in Big Brettenham field & start running furrows & setting tops in crown field

September 13th.

Thursday September 13th. 1923

Fine
Go to Stow
E. Mayes finish Ploughing Fallow & start Rolling little Brettenham field
J. Howe Skimming
Buy Foal at Stow

September 12th.

Wednesday September 12th. 1923



Fine

At home

E. Mayes Ploughing Fallow

J. Howe Skimming

September 11th.

Tuesday September 11th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes Ploughing Fallow
J. Howe Skimming

Farm Work for the Year
September:
Stock Farm:
Cattle at grass should be fat and ready for sale; they may have some early turnips or cabbages to help the greenstuff of the fields along with their cake, scattered in the pastures. Sheep may be put on rape, and ultimately on the earliest turnips. Breeding ewes should be put on better fare than they have had since weaning time. They should be dipped or run with some protecting fluid any time in September, to free their wool and skins from vermin. Pigs may be put to fatten, the larger stores for bacon, the smaller for porkers. Dairy operations are gradually shrinking.

September 10th.

Monday September 10th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes Ploughing Fallow in the morning Horse hoeing Swedes in the afternoon
J. Howe Skimming

September 9th.

Sunday September 9th. 1923

Fine
All at home

Cash Account
September
Receipts

4th. 14 1/2 Sc. Eggs 2/10 £1..19s..4d
6th. 11 1/2 Butter 1/10 £1..1s..2d
11th. 11 1/2 Sc. Eggs 3/0 £1..14s..6d
13th. 8 1/2 Butter 1/10 15s..7d
18th. 8 1/4 Sc. Eggs 2/11 £1..4s..0 1/2d
20th. 8 1/2 Butter 1/10 15s..7d
25th. 8 1/4 Sc. Eggs 3/1 1/2 £1..5s..9d
27th. 7 1/2 Butter 1/10 18s..9d

September 8th.

Saturday September 8th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes start Ploughing long Fallow & finish ploughing between swedes
J. Howe skimming

Memoranda
Sep. 8th.
E. Mayes full week 30/0
J. Howe .. .. 25/0
F. Reynolds 2 hrs. 1/0
W. Pearl full week 7/0

September 7th.

Friday September 7th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes Setting tops in Brettenham field in the morning Ploughing between Swedes in the afternoon
J. Howe Skimming in Big Brettenham field
Auntie Flo come

September 6th.

Thursday September 6th. 1923

Fine
at home
E. Mayes fetch 3/4 ton Coal from Cockfield
J. Howe finish Pea Stubble & start in Big Brettenham field

from Agricultural Review of the Year 1922 (Scotland, contd.)

The area of barley was reduced by 13,700 acres to 157,000 acres, whilst wheat remained practically stationary at 65,300 acres.
Potatoes were increased from 153,800 acres to 157,400 acres, but turnips and swedes declined by 6,600 acres to 404,000 acres.
Arable land was reduced by 12,000 acres and permanent grass increased by 8,000 acres. The total area of hay in Scotland this year was 25,000 acres greater than in 1921, seeds hay being increased to 431,000 acres and meadow hay to 147,000 acres.

September 5th.

Wednesday September 5th. 1923

Fine
At home
All men Carting coal from Cockfield
Nellie & Jack come over & take little Eric back

September 4th.

Tuesday September 4th. 1923

Showerey
At home
E. Mayes Horsehoeing Beet in the morning take horse to Blacksmith in the afternoon.
J. Howe on Double Plough
F. Reynolds 2 hrs
Edith laid up with a son
(N.B The son was my uncle, who owns this diary - Happy Birthday!)

Farm Work for the Year
September:
Arable Farm:
Harvest work proceeds, finishing in the Southern counties and being the chief work in the North. Corn ricks should be thatched as soon as they are built. the outsides may be shorn and the ears thus cut off may be mixed with the rakings to be thrashed on the first opportunity. Ploughs are busy in the stubbles as soon as cleared before the end of the month; bean stubbles for wheat, and in other stubbles for beans, or winter tares or rye. Lime may be applied broadcast, 80 to 100 bushels per acre. Marl is early, and weeds can grow, it is well to pare the stubbles, harrow and gather the rubbish together, and burn it before ploughing. Clover for seed is ready to cut towards the end of September. The ploughing of clover lea for wheat proceeds. Bare fallows receive their last ploughing as a seed furrow, and may be sown.

September 3rd.

Monday September 3rd. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes horseraking Barn field
J. Howe on double Plough on Pea stubble
myself Horse hoeing Turnips & Beet

September 2nd.

Sunday September 2nd. 1923

Fine
At home
Jack & Nellie came over & took Nora back

Agricultural Review of the Year 1922

(contd. re Scotland)
The area of oats was reduced by nearly 24,000 acres to 988,000 acres, whilst in England and Wales there was an addition of 12,000 acres.
Clover and rotation grasses were increased by 33,000 acres, the drought of last year not affecting this crop so severely as south of the Tweed, where there was a large reduction of 247,000 acres.

September 1st.

Saturday September 1st. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes horse raking
J. Howe on double plough
F. Reynolds finish setting tops on Pea Land & carting rakings
Harvest finished

Memoranda
Sep. 1st.
E. Mayes full week 30/0
J. Howe .. .. 25/0
F. Reynolds 5 days 21/0
W. Pearl full week 7/0
£4..10s.. Bonus to each man

August 31st.

Friday August 31st. 1923

Fine
At home
Finish topping up Barley Stack
E. Mayes horse raking.
F. Reynolds setting tops on pea stubble
J. Howe on double Plough on Pea Land

Cash Account
August 1923
Receipts

2nd. 16 1/2 Butter 1/6 £1..4s..9d
7th. 18 1/2 Sc Eggs 2/9 £2..10s..10 1/2d
9th. 16 lb Butter 1/6 £1..4s..0d
16th. 13 lb Butter 1/8 £1..1s..8d
14th. Eggs 2/11 misc. £2..2s..3 1/2d
21st. 15 sc Eggs 2/11 per Sc. £2..3s..9d
23rd. 11 lb. Butter 1/8 18s..4d
30th. 12 lb. Butter 1/10 £1..1s..10d
28th. 16 Sc. eggs 2/11 £2..6s..8d

(order as given, no expenditure recorded)

August 30th.

Thursday August 30th. 1923

Windy
At home
E. Mayes, Howe & myself turning Barley in Rattlesden meadow, unloading & finish carting Barley in the afternoon
F. Reynolds 1/2 day
long day

August 29th.

Wednesday August 29th. 1923

Wet
At home
Finish carting Barley in big Brettenham field, and get 2 loads out of Rattlesden meadow
2 men mending sacks in the afternoon

August 28th.

Tuesday August 28th. 1923

Windy
At home
Carting Barley
long day

from Agricultural Review of the Year 1922

The statement issued by the Board of Agriculture for Scotland giving the summarised results of the annual agricultural returns of that country, shows that with two exceptions, viz., oats and clover and rotation grasses, changes in the area of the chief crops in Scotland as compared with last year were similar to those in England and Wales.

August 27th.

Monday August 27th. 1923

Fine
At home
Finish Cutting Barley and carting Barley
long day

August 26th.

Sunday August 26th. 1923

Fine
Go for a ride round Hessett

Farm Work for the Year
Special Crops:
Buckwheat may be cut in August, or as soon as the majority of blossoms have ripened their seed. Hemp: As soon as the seed has set on the female plants, the male plants may be pulled and tied in bundles, and carried to the steeping-pond. Mustard may be sown for ploughing-in or for feeding off. Teazel harvest begins in August, and the cutting of the heads continues for a week or two.

August 25th.

Saturday August 25th. 1923

Fine
At home
finish mucking wood field & cutting & carting Barley in big Brettenham field
long day

Memoranda
Aug 25th.

E. Mayes full week 30/0
J. Howe .. .. 25/0
F. Reynolds 24/0
W. Pearl 7/0

August 24th.

Friday August 24th. 1923

Showerey
At home
All men carting muck on to Wood field

August 23rd.

Thursday August 23rd. 1923

Showerey
At home
E. Mayes cutting Barley
others unloading beans and finish carting oak field wheat

August 22nd.

Wednesday August 22nd. 1923

Showerey
At home
E. Mayes cutting Barley
others unloading beans and finish carting oak field wheat

August 21st.

Tuesday August 21st. 1923

Fine
At home
Started to cut Barley with binder in big Brettenham field binder go wrong E. Mayes go to Stow for two wheels
Other men carting Winter beans
long day

Farm Work for the Year
August
Stock farm:
Cheese and butter making proceed as in June and July. Milk yields more cheese per gallon in the autumn months. Cows at grass must have extra green food carried to them in the fields in drought. Sales of fatting stock may be effected this month when food for cattle in the fields is at its lowest. Swine will be bringing forth their second litters. The first litters are now strong young porkers, fit to go on the stubbles. The sows will want drafting; those intended for future breeding put on better pasture.

August 20th.

Monday August 20th. 1923

Showerey
At home
All men mowing barley in Big Brettenham field
Long day

August 19th.

Sunday August 19th. 1923

Fine
At home
Edith go to Brettenham

Cash Account
July 1923
Cash

5th. Butter 1/6 £1..8s..6d
8th. 11 Sc Eggs 1/10 1/2 £1..0s..7 1/2d
8th. 19 doz. Eggs Sains 1/2 £1..2s..2d
10th. 11 Sc Eggs 1/10 £1..0s..2d
Sains 1/0 1/2 £1..2s..11d
12th. 16 1/2 lb. Butt at 1/6 £1..4s..9d
17th. 17 1/2 Score Eggs 1/9 £1..10s..7 1/2d
19th. 14 1/2 Butter 1/6 £1..1s..9d
24th. 22 3/4 Sc Eggs at 1/10 1/2 £2..2s..7 1/2d
26th. 15 butter 1/6 £1..2s..6d
31st. 17 1 /2 Sc Eggs at 2/7 £2..5s..2 1/2d

Expenditure
5th. J. Clover 1/2 Sk flour £1..2s..0d
7th. J Bakers Bill £1..18s..9d

August 18th.

Saturday August 18th. 1923

Very stormy
At home
E. Mayes horseraking Sandy layer & Bullace field.
J. Howe, F. Reynolds & myself setting up Bean sheaves

Memoranda
Aug. 18th.
E. Mayes full week 30/0
J. Howe 5 1/2 days 23/0
F. Reynolds 5 days 20/6
W. Pearl 7/0

August 17th.

Friday August 17th. 1923

Showerey
At home
Carting corner field of wheat & setting up Beans

August 16th.

Thursday August 16th. 1923

Fine
Go to Stow
All setting up wheat sheaves in oak field, setting up Rattlesden meadow Barley, carting Bullace field of wheat
Long day

farm Work for the Year
August
Arable farm:
This is the principal harvest month over all the Southern and Midland counties. Wheat is cut before it becomes dead ripe; the last operation of the ripening plant is to thicken the coat of bran on the grain, and there is more flour to a bushel of wheat cut before that stage than after it. Oats are cut while still a little green in the straw; they generally shake out in the wind if left till ripe. Barley is permitted to stand till dead ripe, the ear hanging down. It is required to be all of one stage of ripeness, secured by making it all dead ripe. Winter beans are ripe, and will be harvested in August. Spring-sown beans are also ripening. Early tares left for seed will ripen in August. Mangels and carrots, if running to seed, should be pulled or cut down. Clovers are now over, or folded by sheep. Lucerne also provides forage. Cabbages may be available for cattle at pasture in drought. Fallow work proceeds, and if the land is still foul, advantage must be taken of dry weather to collect and burn weeds. Trifoliage Incarnatum may be sown, 20 lb per acre, over wheat stubble that has been cleaned and harrowed in.

August 15th.

Wednesday August 15th. 1923

Showerey at first fine later
At home
E. Mayes jobbing about in the morning. Horserake Pea Stubblein the afternoon.
J. Howe at home 1/2 day setting up sheaves in the afternoon.
F. Reynolds at home all day.

Agricultural review of the Year 1922 (contd.)
The statement issued by the Board of Agriculture for Scotland giving the summarised results of the annual agricultural returns of that country, shows that with two exceptions, viz., oats and clover and rotation grasses, changes in the area of the chief crops in Scotland as compared with last year were similar to those in England and Wales.

August 14th.

Tuesday August 14th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes Cutting Rattlesden meadow Barley
Others Carting Sandy Layer Winter Oats
Heavy rain at night
(long day)

August 13th.

Wednesday August 13th 1923

Showerey at first fine later
At home
E. Mayes jobbing about in the morning. Horserake Pea Stubble in the afternoon.
J. Howe at home 1/2 day setting up sheaves in the afternoon
F. Reynolds at home all day

August 12th.

Sunday August 12th. 1923

Fine
All at home

Cash Account
June 1923

Receipts
5th. Eggs at 1/10 Pr Sc £2..9s..6d
5th. 6 doz. to Sains 1/2 7s..0d
7th. 23 lb. Butt at 1/6 £1..14s..6d
7th. 8 Store Pigs at 74/0 each £29..12s..0d
12th. 20 1/4 Sc Eggs at 1/10 £1..17s..1 1/2d
12th. 12 Doz. to Sains at 1/2 14s..0d
14th. 21 lb. Butt at 1/6 £1..11s..6d
19th. 12 Sc Eggs at 1/10 £1..2s..0d
19th. 18 1/2 Doz Eggs (Sains) 1/2 £1..1s..7d
21st. 22 lb. Butter at 1/6 £1..13s..3d
26th. 11 Sc. Eggs at 1/10 1/2 £1..0s..7 1/2d
26th. 19 Doz eggs Sains 1/2 £1..2s..2d
28th. 19 1/2 Butter 1/6 £1..9s..3d


Expenditure

2nd. Mr. J. Horress (?) 1/2 yrs rent & rates £52..0s..0d
7th. Mr. Terry Collars £1..4s..6d
7th. Gilt from Stow £8..0s..0d
13th. 5 St flour 10 St Nidds from Mr Clovers £1..3s..4 1/2d
20th. N.F.U. subscription 13s..4d
28th. Tingay for cash £3..0s..0d

August 11th.

Saturday August 11th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes cutting corner field of wheat
J. Howe F. Reynolds cutting round corner field of wheat & setting same up
E. Mayes go to Stow the first thing get 6 Links 6 Pollants (?) & 4 Keeps
long day

Memoranda
Aug 11th.
E. Mayes full week 30/0
J. Howe .. .. 25/0
F. Reynolds .. .. 25/0
W. Pearl 1 day 1/3

August 10th.

Friday August 10th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes finish Bullace field and Cut pear tree field Winter Beans
J. Howe F. Reynolds cutting round Oak field Wheat & setting up Bullace field of Wheat
long day

August 9th.

Thursday August 9th. 1923

Fine
at home
E. Mayes, Howe, Reynolds & myself finish carting Peas, & start cutting Bullace field of Wheat
Reynolds & Howe cutting round winter Beans
E. Mayes
long day

from Agricultural Review of the Year 1922
Hops (contd.)
In the western counties yields were not so satisfactory, being half a hundredweight below average in Herefordshire and just average in Worcestershire. Results this year were therefore the reverse of those of last year, when the western counties had good crops and the south-eastern counties lighter crops than usual.

August 8th.

Wednesday August 8th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes, Howe, J. Reynolds & myself Carting Peas
long day

August 7th.

Tuesday August 7th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes & Howe & Reynolds finish getting Clover unload same and get three Load of Peas
Long day

August 6th.

Monday August 6th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes Cutting Sandy Layer Oats
Myself raking in Clover in Wood field
J. Howe F. Reynolds shaking up Clover and getting two Loads

August 5th.

Sunday August 5th. 1923

Fine
All at home

Champion Beast at London Smithfield Show

1911 W. T Garne & Son Shorthorn Heifer
1912 W. M. Cazalet Shorthorn Steer
1913 Duke of Portland, K.G. Aberdeen-Angus Heifer
1914 J. J. Cridlan Aberdeen-Angus Heifer
1915 H.M. The King Shorthorn Heifer
1916 J. J. Cridlan Aberdeen-Angus Steer
1917 and 1918 (no exhibition)
1919 J. F. Cumming Aberdeen-Angus Heifer
1920 J. J. Cridlan Aberdeen-Angus Steer
1921 Major J. A. Morrison Aberdeen-Angus Steer

August 4th.

Saturday August 4th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes Cutting second crop of Clover
J. Howe & F. Reynolds hoeing Beet

Memoranda
Aug. 4th.
E. Mayes full week 30/0
J. Howe .. .. 25/0
F. Reynolds 5 days 20/6
W. Pearl 1 day 1/3

August 3rd.

Friday August 3rd. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes handle Harrowing crown field
J. Howe, F. Reynolds & myself turning peas in the morning.
Howe & Reynolds hoeing Beet in the afternoon

August 2nd.

Thursday August 2nd. 1923

Fine
Go to Stow
E. Mayes Rib Rolling Crown field
J. Howe & F. Reynolds finish pulling docks out of Winter Beans in Pear tree field
take five Pigs to Stow myself
sold for 69/0 each


Cash account
May 1923
Expenditure
10th. Mr. J. Clovers Bill £14..7s..11d
17th. Threshing Bill £9..4s..0d
17th. Iron Plough at Stow 15s..0d
24th. Gilt at Stow £8..12s..6d
28th. Ralli Car (?) from Mr. Barnard £10..0s..0d

August 1st.

Wednesday August 1st. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes & J. Howe carting heavy stuff from side of road into gateways in the morning, pulling Docks out of Winter beans in pear tree field in afternoon
F. Reynolds at home


Cash Account
May 1923
Receipts

1st. 30 Sc Eggs at 1/10 £2..15s..0d
3rd. 20 1/2 lb. Butt at 1/6 £1..10s..9d
8th. 3 1/2 Sc Eggs at 1/11 £3..0s..4 1/2d
10th. 20 1/2 lb Butt at 1/6 £1..10s..9d
10th. Heifer & Calf £31..0s..0d
15th. 30 Sc Eggs at 1/11 £2..17s..6d
17th. 21 lb Butt at 1/4 £1..8s..0d
17th. Horse at Stow Sale Scot 4 yrs old £26..5s..0d
23rd. 16 Sc Eggs at 1/10 £1..9s..4d
24th. 22lb. Butt at 1/6 £1..13s..0d
24th. Four Bullocks 15..12..6 £62..10s..0d
29th. 28 1/2 Sc Eggs at 1/10 £2..12s..3d
31st. 23lb Butt at 1/6 £1..14s..6d
10th. 10 Comb of Wheat £11..10s..7d

July 31st.

Tuesday July 31st. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes Carting heavy stuff from Brettenham road to mend lower gateway in 12 acres.
J. Howe & F. Reynolds hoeing beet.
heavy rain last night

July 30th.

Monday July 30th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes Cutting Oats in Barn field.
J. Howe & F. Reynolds setting up sheaves in barn field.

July 29th.

Sunday July 29th. 1923

Fine
All at home

from Farm Work for the Year
July
Hop Garden: If weather be dry the space between the rows cannot be moved too frquently, the horse hoe or "midget" being kept going; in dry weather labour tells most effectually on the crop.
Special Crops: Teazels must be kept clean with the spade if they require it.

July 28th.

Saturday July 28th. 1923

Showerey
At home
J. Howe & F. Reynolds Cutting round Winter Oats in Barn field & hoeing beet
E. Mayes take binder into Barn field & getting beet home

Memoranda
July 28th.

E. Mayes full week 30/0
J. Howe .. .. 25/0
F. Reynolds 4 days 16/8
W. Pearl 1 day 1/3

July 27th.

Friday July 27th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes, J. Howe & F. Reynolds finish Cutting Peas

July 26th.

Thursday Juoly 26th. 1923

Windy
At home
E. Mayes, J. Howe & F. Reynolds Cutting Peas

July 25th.

Wednesday July 25th. 1923

Showerey
At home
E. Mayes, J. Howe & F. Reynolds Cutting Peas

from Agricultural Review for 1922

The total production of hops in England this year is estimated at 301,000 cwts., or 77,000 cwts. more than last year, and 26,000 cwts. above the average of the ten years 1912 to 1921. The average yield per acre for the whole country was 11.4 cwts., against 8.9 cwts. last year and 10.4 cwts. the ten years average. In Kent the yield per acre was 12.3 cwts., about one cwt. above average, and in the south-eastern counties generally over-average yields were obtained, especially in Sussex where there was a heavy crop of 14.2 cwts. per acre.

July 24th.

Tuesday July 24th. 1923

Fine
All at home
E. Mayes & J. Howe finish crossploughing crown field
E. Mayes getting Beet home in the afternoon
J. Howe pulling Docks out of Peas

July 23rd.

Monday July 23rd. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes & J. Howe ploughing in crown field
myself Cutting thistles in Rattlesden meadow

July 22nd.

Sunday July 22nd. 1923

Fine
All at home
Go for a ride round peppers corner & Castle

Farm Work for the Year
July
Hop Garden:
If weather be dry the space between the rows cannot be moved too frequently, the horse-hoe or "midget" being kept going; in dry weather labour tells most effectually on the crop.

July 21st.

Saturday July 21st. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes & J. Howe crossploughing in crown field
myself & W. Pearl cutting thistles in Rattlesden meadow

Memoranda
July 21st.
E. Mayes full week 30/0
J. Howe 5 days £1..0..10
W. Pearl 1 day 1/3

July 20th.

Friday July 20th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes & J. Howe crossploughing crown field
myself cutting thistles in Rattlesden meadow

July 19th.

Thursday July 19th. 1923

Showerey (sic)
At home
E. Mayes finish shimming beet & start cross ploughing in crown field
myself ploughing in crown field
J. Howe at home


Cash account

April 1923

Receipts

3rd. 20 1/2 Sc. H. Eggs
2 1/2 Sc. D. Eggs £1..11s..4 1/2d
5th. 18 lb. Butt at 2/0 £1..16s..0d
10th. 27 1/2 Sc. eggs at 1/4 £1..16s..8d
12th. 18 lb. Butt at 2/0 £1..16s..0d
17th. 30 Sc. Eggs at 1/6 1/2 £2..6s..3d
19th. 19 1/2 lb. Butt at 1/10 £1..15s..8d
24th. 32 1/2 Sc Eggs at 1/8 £2..14s..2d
26th. 19 1/2 lb. Butt at 1/10 £1..15s..8d
26th. Young sow £9..7s..6d

Expenditure

12th. Mr. Terry Harness £1..9s..0d
26th. Mr. Terry New Saddle £4..10s..0d

July 18th.

Wednesday July 18th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes finish shimming swedes & start in beet
J. Howe finish chopping out beet & help me to thatch Stover Stack

Champion Beast at London Smithfield Show
1901 Earl of Strathmore Aberdeen-Angus Heifer
1902 Earl of Strathmore Aberdeen-Angus Heifer
1903 R. L. Batchelor Shorthorn-Aberdeen-Angus Heifer
1904 Earl of Rosebery, K.G. Shorthorn Heifer
1905 Col. Chas. McInroy, C.B. Aberdeen-Angus Heifer
1906 H. M. The King Shorthorn Steer
1907 Peter Dunn Shorthorn Steer
1908 Countess Dowager of Seafield Aberdeen-Angus heifer
1909 Sir Richard Cooper, Bt. Aberdeen-Angus Steer
1910 J. J. Cridlan Aberdeen-Angus Heifer

July 17th.

Tuesday July 17th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes finish Rib rolling crown field & start shimming in swedes
J. Howe chopping out beet

July 16th.

Monday July 16th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes harrowing Turnip & fallow land & start rolling crown field
J. Howe chopping out beet

July 15th.

Sunday July 15th. 1923

Heavy Storm in the afternoon
All at home

Farm Work for the Year
July
Stock Farm:
During this and the previous month cows continue to receive the bull, especially the earlier heifers at 16 months and 17 and 18 months old. Lambs are weaned in July, the ewes being taken from them and put into poorer pastures. The horse-work of July is not so heavy as that of other months , and they may be turned to grass at night. They will be employed in carting lime from kilns for spreading on the stubble after harvest. Drain tiles, too, may be fetched against needing them in winter time, and be placed in the fields to be drained. This is a suitable month for clearing out ditches and river courses. When bare fallows are necessary a good deal of work is done in July in cross-ploughing and scarifying, collecting and burning weeds, and another cross-ploughing may be accomplished.

July 14th.

Saturday July 14th. 1923

Warm
At home
E. Mayes & J. Howe Chopping out Beet
myself chopping out beet

Memoranda
July 14th.
E. Mayes full week 30/0
J. Howe .. .. 25/0
W. Pearl 1 day 1/3

July 13th.

Friday July 13th. 1923

Warm
At home
E. Mayes finish ploughing between beet with breast off
J. Howe Chopping out Beet
Go to Buxhall myself with three lots of corn
bring one bag of midds (?) home & get a load of Beet

July 12th.

Thursday July 12th. 1923

Warm
At home
E. Mayes ploughing in beet with breast off
J. Howe & myself docking in Rattlesden meadow

from Farm Work for the Year
July
Arable Farm:
Flax may be pulled as soon as the bolls get brown in July, and the land may be easily got into tilth for later turnips or mustard. Hay-making of the clover and sainfoin will be finished, and meadow hay-making begun in July. Silos may be filled, or silage stacks built.

July 11th.

Wednesday July 11th. 1923

Warm
Edith, myself & family go to Felixstowe
E. Mayes finish crown field
J. Howe finish docking in Big Brettenham field

July 10th.

Tuesday July 10th. 1923

Hot
At home
E. Mayes ploughing in crown field
J. Howe & myself start docking in big Brettenham field

Cash Account
March 1923
Expenditure

22nd. To Barnard for Varnishing trap £2..10s..0d
22nd. To Godbold £1..0s..0d
22nd. To Silcock for leakes (?) £9..2s..5d
27th. W. R. Ennals 2 Cwt. L. Cake £1..10s..0d

July 9th.

Monday July 9th. 1923

Warm
At home
E. Mayes ploughing in crown field
J. Howe & myself docking in corner field

July 8th.

Sunday July 8th. 1923

Warm
All at home


Cash Account
Receipts
March 1923

1st. 17 lb. Butt at 2/2 £1..16s..10d
6th. 14 Sc. H. Eggs 1/11 1/2 3 Sc. D 2/2 1/2 £1..14s..0 1/2d
8th. 17 3/4 lb. Butt at 2/2 £1..18s..5 1/2d
13th. 19 Sc. H. Eggs at 1/11 36/5
2 3/4 Sc. D. Eggs at 2/2 5/11 1/2 £2..2s..4 1/2d
Paid 2..0..4 1/2
15th. 1 Fat Pig £6..11s..0d
15th. 17 3/4 lb. Butt at 2/2 £1..18s..5 1/2d
20th. 25 Sc. H. Eggs at 1/11 1/2 £2..8s..11 1/2d.
3 Sc. D. Eggs at 2/2 1/2 6s..7 1/2d
22nd. 17 3/4 lb. Butt at 2/2 £1..18s..5 1/2d
22nd. Pony Trap & Harness £36..0s..0d
27th. 32 Sc. H. Eggs at 1/10 & 2/1 £2..19s..3d.
27th. 17 lb. Butt at 2/0 £1..14s..0d

July 7th.

Saturday July 7th. 1923

Warm
At home
E. Mayes ploughing crown field
J. Howe & myself docking in corner field

Memoranda
July 7th.
E. Mayes full week 30/0
J. Howe full week 25/0
W. Pearl 1 day 1/3

July 6th.

Friday July 6th. 1923

Warm
At home
E. Mayes Ploughing crown field
J. Howe & myself docking in corner field

from Agricultural Review of the Year 1922

The large increase in the number of pigs last year has not been maintained. The total, 2,296,700 is some 208,800 less than in 1921, but still over 300,000 more than in 1920, and, apart from last year, is the largest since 1915.

July 5th.

Thursday July 5th. 1923

Hot
Go to Stow
E. Mayes Ploughing in crown field
J. Howe docking in corner field

Champion Beast at London Smithfield Show
1896 Earl of Strathmore Aberdeen-Angus Heifer
1897 John Wortley Galloway-Shorthorn Heifer
1898 Earl of Strathmore Aberdeen-Angus Heifer
1899 H.M. The Queen Hereford Steer
1900 John Wortley Hereford Steer

July 4th.

Wednesday July 4th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes Ploughing in crown field
J. Howe & myself finish docking in oak field

July 3rd.

Tuesday July 3rd. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes Ploughing crown field
J. Howe & myself start docking in oak field

from Farm Work for the Year
July
Arable: Flax may be pulled as soon as the bolls get brown in July, and the land may be easily got into tilth for later turnips or mustard. Hay-making of the clover and sainfoin will be finished, and meadow hay-making begun in July. Silos may be filled, or silage stacks built.

July 2nd.

Monday July 2nd. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes Ploughing crown field
J. Howe & myself finish docking bullace field

July !st.

Sunday July 1st. 1923

Fine
All at home
Fred Sharpe came over

from Farm Work for the Year
July
Arable Farm:
Peas will be ready for harvesting towards the end of the month in Southern counties, also winter beans. Any rye that has not been cut for forage, or for silage, is now ripe, and will be ready for harvest. Turnips must be horse and hand-hoed, probably for the last time.
Any tendency to mildew in the earlier crop may be checked by sowing a cwt. of nitrate of soda per acre by hand between the rows. Carrots and parsnips, too, receive their last hoeing.

June 30th.

Saturday June 30th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes Ploughing crown field
J. Howe, myself, & W. Pearl docking in bullace field

Memoranda
June 30th.
E. Mayes full week 30/0
J. Howe .. .. 25/0
W. Pearl 1 day 1/3

June 29th.

Friday June 29th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes, J. Howe & myself topping up Stover Stack in morning
E. Mayes ploughing crown field in afternoon
J. Howe & myself docking in bullace field in afternoon

June 28th.

Thursday June 28th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes ploughing crown field
J. Howe & myself finish docking Sandy Layer

June 27th.

Wednesday June 27th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes start ploughing crown field
J. Howe Docking on Sandy Layer

Farm Work for the Year
June
Exceptional Crops: Teazels receive their last cultivation, a shallow spading. White mustard may be sown after tares as food for sheep or for ploughing in as green manuring. Hemp may be singled out to about 12 inches.

June 26th.

Tuesday June 26th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes & J. Howe finish ploughing fallow and headlands round 12 acres
Myself docking on Sandy Layer

June 25th.

Monday June 25th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes & J. Howe ploughing Fallow

February
Expenditure

1st. Two Pigs from Woodwards Sale £8..8s..0d
1st. Premium for Policy £22..3s..0d
14th. Dr. Smith £2..13s..0d
15th. Mr. J. Baker £1..18s..2d

June 24th.

Sunday June 24th. 1923

Fine
All at home


February receipts

1st. 15 lb. Butt at 2/0 £1..10s..0d
1st. One Pig £4..4s..0d
1st. Four Pigs £20..10s..0d
6th. 16 Sc. Eggs at 2/11 £2..6s..8d
8th. 15 1/2 lb. Butt at 2/0 £1..11s..0d
13th. 16 Sc. Eggs at 2/6 £2..0s..0d
15th. 18 lb. Butt at 2/2 £1..19s..0d
20th. 2 1/2 Sc Eggs at 2/6
14 Sc. Hen Eggs at 2/3 £1..17s..9d
22nd. 19 lb. butt at 2/2 £2..1s..2d
27th. 12 1/4 Sc H Eggs at 2/0 £1..11s..3d
3 Sc Ducks at 2/3

June 23rd.

Saturday June 23rd. 1923

Fine
At home
Myself Horseraking Wood field & little Brettenham field
E. Mayes & J. Howe Carting rakings

Memoranda
June 23rd.
E. Mayes full week 30/0
J. Howe 25/0
Over time 10/0
W. Pearl 2/6

June 22nd.

Friday June 22nd. 1923

Fine
At home
J. Howe, E. Mates & myself Carting Clover from Wood field

Farm Work for the Year
June
Hop Garden: Where bine is weak shorter poles should be supplied in place of long ones, and where land needs it, additional supplies of artificial manure are applied.

June 21st.

Thursday June 21st. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes, J. Howe & myself Carting Trifolium Stoves

June 20th.

Wednesday June 20th. 1923

Showerey (sic)
At home
E. Mayes J. Howe & myself Chopping out Beet

Champion Beast at London Smithfield Show

1891 John Wortley Devon Steer
1892 Sir John Swinburne, Bt. Shorthorn-Galloway Steer
1893 J. D. Fletcher Aberdeen-Angus Steer
1894 Clement Stephenson Aberdeen-Angus Heifer
1895 H. M. The Queen Shorthorn Heifer

June 19th.

Tuesday June 19th. 1923

Drissly (sic)
At home
E. Mayes & J. Howe Ploughing Fallow


January
Expenditure

4th. E. Death £4..10s..0d
3rd. Lacy Scott 2 Calves £2..0s..0d
5th. Howlett £2..0s..0d
10th. Lacy Scott 1 Calf £3..7s..6d
11th. Threshing Bills £17..7s..2d
12th. Coe & Hudson £4..15s..6d
16th. W. R. Ennals£10..7s..6d
18th. Geo. Bendall for Rates £9..0s..0d
25th. Thurlow & Sons 14s..3d
25th. Calf £2..15s..0d
30th. Workmans Compensation £1..12s..8d
30th. W. R. Ennals £3..17s..6d

June 18th.

Monday June 18th. 1923

Fine
At home
Myself Raking in Clover in Wood field
E. Mayes & J. Howe getting 3 loads and cocking the rest

June17th.

Sunday June 17th. 1923

Fine
All at home
David Pollie & Nellie came

Cash accounts for January

Receipts
2nd. 6 1/2 sc Eggs at 3/9 £1..4s..4 1/2d
4th. 8 1/2 lb. Butt at 2/0 17s..0d
4th. 5 Duck at 4/1 £1..0s..5d
9th. 7 sc. Eggs at 3/9 £1..6s..3d
11th. 8 1/2 lb. Butt at 2/0 17s..0d
12th. Young Sow to Mr. Venner (?) £11..0s..0d
16th. 10 1/4 sc. Eggs at 3/10 £1..19s..2d
18th. 9 lb. Butt at 2/0 18s..0d
23rd. 11 1/4 sc. Eggs at 3/9 £2..2s..2d
2/0 to come
25th. 11 lb. Butt at 2/0 £1..2s..0d
30th. 13 1/2 sc. Eggs at 3/4 £2..4s..0d

June 16th.

Saturday June 16th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes ploughing fallow
J. Howe, myself, F. W. Pearl turning clover in wood field

Memoranda
June 16th.
E. Mayes full week 30/0
J. Howe .. .. 25/0

June 15th.

Friday June 15th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes, J. Howe & myself recocking trifolium

June 14th.

Thursday June 14th. 1923

Fine
Go to Stow
E. Mayes ploughing headlands round trifolium field
J. Howe finish side hoeing beet

from Agricultural Review of the Year 1922
The shortage of keep last winter, which caused an early marketing of feeding sheep, coupled with the very high prices which have ruled for fat sheep durinig past months has resulted in a reduction in the number of sheep since last year, the total being 13,437,000 or 395,000 less than a year ago. The reduction is, however, confined to sheep other than ewes and lambs, the breeding flock having again increased, though not to the same extent as last year.

June 13th.

Wednesday June 13th. 1923

Windy
At home
E. Mayes take young sow to Hardings and then Ploughing for turnips
J. Howe & myself side hoeing for beet

June 12th.

Tuesday June 12th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes Horse raking trifolium
J. Howe & myself cocking same

from Farm Work for the Year
June
Stock Farm: Grass lands must be grazed according to the season, and thistles spudded and droppings knocked about. Any cattle being soiled in stalls or boxes during the summer receive clover and vetches brought to them along with cake and meal; but grazing beasts are now generally at grass, receiving, it may be, decorticated cotton cake, with which they are supplied either in moveable troughs or directly on the surface of the land. Hay-making begins in June; and cows should have as frequent change of pasture as possible. Sheep are washed and shorn in June, if not before; the shepherd must look carefully daily for any attacks of fly.

June 11th.

Monday June 11th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes Cutting Wood field of Clover
J. Howe side hoeing beet

June 10th.

Sunday June 10th. 1923

Fine
All at home


Champion Beast at London Smithfield Show
1879 James John Ratcliff Shorthorn heifer
1880 J.J.Colman M.P. Shorthorn-Aberdeen-Angus-Steer
1881 Sir W. G. Gordon-Cumming, Bart. Scotch Polled Heifer
1882 Richard Stratton Shorthorn Heifer
1883 H.M.The Queen Shorthorn Heifer
1884 Robert Wortley Hereford-Shorthorn Steer
1885 Clement Stephenson Aberdeen-Angus Cow
1886 Frederick Platt Hereford Steer
1887 Clement Stephenson Aberdeen-Angus Cow
1888 John Wortley Devon Steer
1889 H.M.The Queen Shorthorn Steer
1890 H.M.The Queen Shorthorn Heifer

June 9th.

Saturday June 9th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes finish cutting trifolium
J. Howe side hoeing beet


Memoranda
June 9th.
E. Mayes full week 30/0
J. Howe full week 25/0

June 8th.

Friday June 8th. 1923

Fine
At home

E. Mayes finish Ploughing between beet & start Cutting Trifolium
J. Howe side hoeing beet


from Farm Work for the Year
June
Arable: Clovers and sainfoin are mown for hay and for forage, for which also the late vetches are still available. The fly is no doubt appearing among the earliest sown young turnips, which are brairding in the rows. The only preventive is to have the land in a growing state of tilth and fertility.There are also remedies in dusting the young plant with lime dust, or in brushing them over continuously with paraffin-wetted brushes. They are finishing turnip-hoeing in the North already, at the same time as they are only beginning in the South, where too early sowing makes them liable to mildew. Perhaps a little nitrate of soda sown in July and August between the rows whenever there is a chance of rain washing it in might help to maintain growth in spite of mildew.

June 7th.

Thursday June 7th. 1923

Fine
Go to Stow
E. Mayes take 8 Pigs to Stow sold for 74/0 each
J. Howe side hoeing beet
Bought Gilt at Stow £8..0..0

June 6th.

Wednesday June 6th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes finish Ploughing Headlands round little Brettenham field
J. Howe side hoeing beet

Mallenders & Sallenders in Horses

The skin should be first treated with carbonate of soda, 2 ozs. well mixed with olive oil, 1 pint. This mixture will soften the skin and remove much of the increased cuticle. When sufficiently softened the skin may be washed with soft water and ordinary hand soap, when dry and clean apply fine ointment, well rubbed into the skin two or three times a week.

June 5th.

Tuesday June 5th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes Rolling Swede Ridges
& start Ploughing headlands round trifolium field
J. Howe side hoeing beet
Drilling swedes myself

Champion Beast at London Smithfield Show
1878 Richard Stratton Shorthorn Heifer

June 4th.

Monday June 4th. 1923

Showerey (sic)
E. Mayes splitting swede ridges
J. Howe sowing manure & splitting swede ridges

from Agricultural Review of the Year 1922

The total number of cattle, 5,721,800, is 205,000 greater than last year. Cows and heifers in milk or in calf number ,521, 400 (sic) or 20,000 more than in 1921, and the largest on record except in 1918 and 1919. The number of heifers in calf is, however, 74,300 less than the high figure of last year, but is still some 17,000 greater than in 1920. The large increase in the number of calves recorded last year has practically been maintained, whilst the number of yearling cattle is 30 per cent greater than in 1921.The heavy slaughterings of calves in the spring of 1920 shows this year in cattle two years old and above which number 78,300 less than last year.

June 3rd.

Sunday June 3rd. 1923

Fine
All at home
Bob & Kitty came over from Hartest


from Farm Work for the Year
June
Arable Farm: Turnip cultivation is the chief work in June in Southern and Midland counties. Other forward green crops will need horse and hand-hoeing, and singling out to fitting distances - mangels about 12 inches apart, carrots and parsnips about 7 or 8, and kohl rabi about 10. Cabbages may be transplanted either into well-prepared land, so as to yield a full crop of drumheads in December and late autumn, or between the rows of the ripening early crop of potatoes, so as to provide a catch crop after they have been removed.

June 2nd.

Saturday June 2nd. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes & J.Howe spreading muck for swedes & rolling ridges down

Memoranda
June 2nd.
E. Mayes 5 days 25/0
J. Howe 5 1/2 days & 1 Night Pulling Charlocks 25/0
F. Pearl 37 hrs. Chopping over Winter Oats 18/6
9 boys pulling Charlocks £2...0...0

June 1st.

Friday June 1st. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes go to show at Ipswich
J. Howe finish carting muck for swedes

Horses with Coughs and colds
Cold bran mash with 1/2 lb. of linseed and one of saltpetre in each mash

May 31st.

Thursday May 31st. 1923

Fine
Go to Stow
Go to Ipswich Show
E. Mayes ridging for swedes. J. Howe carting muck for same.

May 30th.

Wednesday May 30th. 1923

Showery
At home
E. Mayes start ridging for Swedes
J. Howe Harrowing for swedes & start carting muck for same

from Farm Work for the Year
May
Hop Garden: Nitrate of soda and other soluble manures may be applied with advantage if growth is backward or stunted.
Special Subjects: Silos may be got ready or stacks arranged to receive green rye, trifolium, and other forward green stuff, under pressure.

May 29th.

Tuesday May 29th. 1923

Wet
At home
E. Mayes Ploughing in Beet
J. Howe Chopping over Barley in the morning, at home 1/2 day

Calendar for May:
1st. Sow served. Susan
14th. Heifer Stocked. Rosie
28th. Daisy Stocked. Sow Served. Poppie

May 28th.

Monday May 28th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes Ploughing in Beet
J. Howe & myself take Daisy to Stock
Chopping over Wheat in the afternoon

May 27th.

Sunday May 27th. 1923

Fine
At home

from Agricultural Review of the Year 1922
So far as Livestock are concerned in 1922, horses were reduced in numbers but cattle have increased. Pigs have not maintained the progress made in 1921 while sheep are fewer than a year ago, again quoting the official returns, the number of horses on agricultural holdings has been reduced by 44,300 to 1,340,300. A further decline in breeding is to be noted, the number of foals being only 83,800 or 8,500 less than last year and 18,300 less than in 1914.

May 26th.

Saturday May 26th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes carting heavy stuff from Brettenham low road on to little field
J. Howe chopping over wheat
F. Pearl 1/2 day chopping over W. Oats

Memoranda
May 26th.
E. Mayes full week 30/0
J. Howe full week 25/0
F. Pearl 4 hrs

May 25th

Friday May 25th, 1923

Showery.
At home.

E. Mayes finish rolling fallow of swede land.
J. Howe chopping over wheat in corner field.

May 24th

Thursday May 24th, 1923

Fine.
Go to Stow.

E. Mayes take four bullocks to Stowmarket. J. Howe finish hoeing beans and start chopping over Wheat in corner field.
Buy Gilt at Stow £8..12..6

May 23rd

Wednesday May 23rd, 1923

Showery.
At home.

E. Mayes take two horses to Blacksmith and rolling fallow.
J. Howe hoeing beans.

May 22nd

Tuesday May 22nd, 1923

Fine.
At home.

E. Mayes & J. Howe hoeing beans

May 21st

Monday May 21st, 1923

Fine.
At home.

E. Mayes & J. Howe hoeing beans.

from Farm Work for the Year
May:
Hop Garden: Poling and subsequent hoeing of the hop ground are now complete, and the tying is commenced; two or three bines are tied to each pole. A second digging of the hop ground proceeds.

May 20th

Sunday May 20th, 1923

Fine.
At home.

from Farm Work for the Year
May:
Buckwheat may be grown on light, poor soil, sown in May, one bushel of seed per acre in rows a foot apart.

May 19th

Saturday May 19th, 1923

Fine.
At home.

E. Mayes & J. Howe & myself hoeing beans.

from Farm Work for the Year
May:
Special Crops: It may be well to prepare , under glass if necessary, young plants of maize and tobacco, to prick out in sheltered spots towards the end of June, where it is desired to speculate in either crop during the coming summer; or maize may be sown in rows 15 inches apart on properly prepared land after the first week in June if it is only desired to grow leaf for ensilage.

MEMORANDA
May 19th
E. Mayes full week 30/0
J. Howe full week 25/0

May 18th

Friday May 18th, 1923

Fine.
At home.

E. Mayes Ploughing for swedes.
J. Howe hoeing beans.
myself ploughing up Beet hale bottom and sowing same with barley.

May 17th

Thursday May 17th, 1923

Fine.
Go to Stow.

E. Mayes take Scot to Stowmarket.
Sold for 25 gns
J. Howe hoeing beans.

May 16th

Wednesday May 16th, 1923

Showery & cold.
At home.

E. Mayes Ploughing for Swedes 4th time.
J. Howe & myself finish clearing one hale of beet.

from Farm Work for the Year
May:
The pigsties ought to be full on dairy farms, young pigs bred or bought receiving the whey, and with it Indian and barley and rice meal.

May 15th

Tuesday May 15th, 1923

Windy.
At home.

E. Mayes Ploughing headlands in 12 acres.
J. Howe hoeing beans.
take Scot to Blacksmith myself.

May 14th

Monday May 14th, 1923

Fine.
At home.

E. Mayes getting Beet home & Rolling Barley in big Brettenham field. Howe & myself take heifer to sterek. (Rosie) hoeing beans in the afternoon.

May 13th

Sunday May 13th, 1923

Cold.
At home.

from Farm Work for the Year
May:
The earlier calves are getting weaned, and a portion of cake or Indian meal is a desirable addition to their food. Cows are now fully at pail, and dairy work is heavy.

May 12th

Saturday May 12th, 1923

Stormy.
At home.

E. Mayes & Howe finish cross ploughing fallow & start on headlands.

May 11th

Friday May 11th, 1923

Showery.
At home.

E. Mayes cross ploughing fallow. J. Howe rolling land for Swedes, and do a little more on barley field. Howe ploughing in the afternoon.

from Farm Work for the Year
May:
Stock Farm: Cows are out at grass during May; they may be brought in, perhaps, for the first week or so at night. Rye, vetches, and even mangels may help out a late season.

May 10th

Thursday May 10th, 1923

Showery.
Go to Stow.

E. Mayes take heifer & calf to Stowmarket. Sold for £31..0..0
J. Howe jabbing about in the yards & getting Beet home.

May 9th

Wednesday May 9th, 1923

Fine.
At home.

E. Mayes cross ploughing fallow. J. Howe & myself finish horse hoeing barley in Big Brettenham field at Dinner time. J. Howe start rolling barley in same field.

May 8th

Tuesday May 8th, 1923

Fine
At home

E. Mayes cross ploughing fallow. J Howes & myself horse hoeing barley.

from Farm Work for the Year
May:
Top dressings may be applied to the young corn crops which need it. Barley and oats taken after the wheat crop will generally want a dressing of this kind.

May 7th

Monday May 7th, 1923

Fine.
At home.

E. Mayes cross ploughing fallow. J. Howes and myself start horse hoeing barley in big Brettenham field.

May 6th.

Sunday May 6th. 1923

Fine
All at home

from Farm Work for the Year
May:
Land for turnips is ribbed up in rows 2 ft. to 26 inches apart, receiving as heavy a dressing of farmyard dung as can be afforded, or a half dressing along with 3 or 4 cwt. of superphosphate sown broadcast over the whole before the drills are split to cover the dung.

May 5th.

Saturday May 5th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes Rolling in seeds in Rattlesden meadow.
J. Howe & myself finish drilling seeds in Rattlesden meadow.
4 St Trefoil, Clover, & Rye Grass mixed

Memoranda
May 5th.
E, Mayes full week 30/0
J. Howe full week 25/0
April 28th. J. Howard white sow
May 2nd. Mr. Frost .. ..

Calendar
May 1st. Sow served. Susan

May 4th.

Friday May 4th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes Rolling in seed in Sandy layer
J. Howe & myself finish drilling Sanfoin in Sandy Layer 5 1/2 sacks & start drilling seeds in Rattlesden meadow

May 3rd.

Thursday May 3rd. 1923

Showerey (sic)
Go to Stow
E. Mayes cross ploughing fallow
J. Howe & myself start drilling sainfoin in the morning, rain had to leave off
E. Mayes, J. Howe Drilling again in the afternoon

May 2nd.

Wednesday May 2nd. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes cross ploughing Fallow
J. Howe & myself finish hoeing barley in Rattlesden meadow & start Drilling Sanfoin in Sandy Layer

Farm Work for the Year
May
Arable Farm: The principal work for the early part of the month still is getting in the last crop of mangels, and in the later weeks the earliest-sown swedes and turnips. In the Northern counties swedes are all got in this month. Wheat receives its last weeding. Beans will require horse-hoeing; and the earliest-sown mangels and kohl rabi also will want horse-hoeing and singling by hand-hoe.

May 1st.

Tuesday May 1st. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes start Ploughing Fallow third time (crossways)
J. Howe & myself finish hoeing Peas & start hoeing Rattlesden meadow Barley

April 30th.

Monday April 30th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes finish Fallow second time
J. Howe & myself finish horse hoeing Barn field & start hoeing Peas second time

April 29th.

Sunday April 29th. 1923

Showerey
All at home
Pollie & David came over

from Agricultural Review of the Year 1922

So far as Livestock is concerned in 1922, horses were reduced in numbers but cattle have increased. Pigs have not maintained the progress made in 1921 while sheep are fewer than a year ago, again quoting the official returns, the number of horses on agricultural holdings has been reduced by 44,300 to 1,340,300. A further decline in breeding is to be noted, the number of foals being only 83,800 or 8,500 less than last year and 18,300 less than in 1914.

April 28th.

Saturday April 28th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes ploughing Fallow
J. Howe & W. Pearl horse hoeing Winter oats in Barn field

Memoranda
April 28th.
E. Mayes full week 30/0
J. Howe full week 25/0

April 27th.

Friday April 27th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes Ploughing Fallow
J. Howe Splitting potatoe (sic) ridges & getting Beet home in the afternoon
myself & J. Howe finish horse hoeing Peas first time

April 26th.

Thursday April 26th. 1923

Showerey (sic)
Go to Stow
E. Mayes Ploughing Fallow
J. Howe carting muck for Potatoes
sowing manure for same & rolling them

April 25th.

Wednesday April 25th. 1923

Showerey (sic)
At home
Both men jobbing about first part of the day, afterwards E. Mayes Ploughing Fallow, J. Howe & myself horse hoeing Peas.

April 24th.

Tuesday April 24th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes Ploughing Fallow
J. Howe & myself finish horse hoeing W. Beans 2nd. time and hoeing Bullace field Wheat
10 Comb of Wheat went to mill

April 23rd.

Monday April 23rd. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes Ploughing Fallow in 12 acres
J. Howe Rolling Beet Ridges twice & Drilling Beet and rolling out

April 22nd.

Sunday April 22nd. 1923

Fine
All go to Brettenham to tea

from Farm Work for the Year
April
Stock Farm:
Dairy work is in full swing, most of the calves have come, and cheese-making is at its busiest. Fatting beasts are still in stalls or boxes receiving mangels and hay with meal and cake. Sheepfolds are overtaking the turnips, and the plough follows immediately, and the last barley is sown. Young grass is available for ewes and lambs in the water meadows, and mangels may be taken to them in the pastures.
Special Crops:
Teazels in the second year should be dug between the plants. Gorse may be sown this month on any land that is otherwise waste; sow 10lb. of seeds in rows 18 inches apart.

April 21st.

Saturday April 21st. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes crossploughing in 12 acres top side of beet ridges
J. Howe & W. Pearl horse hoeing winter beans


Memoranda
April 21st.
E. Mayes full week 30/0
J. Howe full week 25/0

April 20th.

Friday April 20th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes finish splitting Beet Ridges
J. Howe carting Beet in the morning & Drilling & Rolling Beet in the afternoon
Sold 10 Comb of Wheat at 10/3 per cwt.

April 19th.

Thursday April 19th. 1923

Fine
Go to Stow
E. Mayes splitting beet Ridges
J. Howe finish sowing manure for Beet 9 Bags in all

April 18th.

Wednesday April 18th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes finish ploughing headlands round 12 acres.
J. Howe & myself finish spreading muck for Beet.
J. Howe rolling ridges in the afternoon.

April 17th.

Tuesday April 17th, 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes finish harrowing Bullace tree field of Wheat the second time.
Split Potatoe (sic) Ridges down, & start Ploughing headlands round 12 acres.
J. Howe finish carting muck for beet, finish the day spreading muck.
Myself spreading muck.

April 16th.

Monday April 16th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes Rolling Rattlesden meadow in the morning, Harrowing wheat on bullace field in the afternoon.
J. Howe Carting Muck for Beet

April 15th.

Sunday April 15th. 1923

Fine
All at home
Jack & Nellie came over

Farm Work for the Year
April:
Flax is sown in April, nine pecks per acre sown broadcast by the drill, the counter funnels being removed. Onions may be sown this month, 6 or 7 lb. of seed per acre, in rows 8 inches or 9 inches wide. Artificial manures, superphosphate, nitrate of soda, and soluble manures of all kinds may be applied broadcast in the growing weather of April over grass lands and over such wheat as wants them. Superphosphate is also a good manure for barley, ensuring better and earlier ripening. Liquid manure may be taken over the grass land.

April 14th.

Saturday April 14th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes Rolling on big Brettenham field
J. Howe Carting muck for Beet
Myself Ploughing in wheelracks and getting Beet home


Memoranda
April 14th. E. Mayes full week 30/0
.. .. J. Howe 5 days 20/10
.. .. F. Reynolds 2 .. 9/0
Received from Mr Ennals April 12th. 4 St Misc. Seed
3 Comb W. Oats
Received from Mr Ennals April 14th. 5 Sacks Sanfoin 7 Sts

April 13th.

Friday April 13th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes & myself drilling spring Oats on Sandy layer in Winter Oats
J. Howe harrowing twice for same


Champion Beast at London Smithfield Show
1877 N. Catchpole Shorthorn heifer

April 12th.

Thursday April 12th. 1923

Fine
Go to Stow with the Colt first time.
E. Mayes splitting Ridges on to muck for beet
J. Howe sowing manure & spreading muck

April 11th.

Wednesday April 11th. 1923

Showerey (sic)
Go to Gedding Mill for F. Reynolds
E. Mayes J. Howe spreading manure for beet
E. Mayes harrowing in the afternoon on Big Brettenham field.

from Farm Work for the Year
April:
Mangels are sown or dibbled during the latter weeks of March and April on raised drills 24 and 30 inches wide, in which a good dressing of dung has been buried, and on which super-phosphate and guano have been sown broadcast. Land is being got ready for turnips. Carrots may be sown on the flat in rows 12 to 15 inches apart. Lucerne may be sown this month on any deep loam; if calciferous so much the better if clean and in good heart, 10 lb. to 12 lb.of seed being sown per acre in rows a foot apart. Sainfoin is sown in April, drilled or sown across the barley as that is coming up; 20 lb. of milled seed are sown per acre.

April 10th.

Tuesday April 10th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes finish Rolling Brettenham field of Barley and start rolling layer other side of road.
J. Howe harrowing barn field of Oats twice.
F. Reynolds & myself horse-hoeing Winter Beans.

April 9th.

Monday April 9th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes Rib Rolling Big Brettenham field
F. Reynolds harrowing Oak field of Wheat twice
J. Howe at home

April 8th.

Sunday April 8th. 1923

Fine
All at home


from Agricultural Review of the Year 1922
Meadow hay yielded better than last year, being estimated at 18.4 cwts. per acre, against 15.8 cwts. in 1921, but still some 3 cwts. per acre below average. The acreage was greater than in 1921, so that the total production of 4,068,000 tons shows a welcome increase of 870,000 tons. The total quantity of hay produced this year is therefore about 5,800,000 tons, or 460,000 tons more than in 1921, but still some 1,500,000 tons below the average of the ten years 1912 - 21.

April 7th.

Saturday April 7th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes Rib Rolling Barn field
F. Reynolds finish harrowing big Brettenham field
J. howe at home
W. Pearl & myself carting Beet & faggots

Memoranda
April 7th.
E. Mayes full week 30/0
F. Reynolds 4 days 17/6
W. Pearl boy 6/0
J. Howe ---

April 6th.

Friday April 6th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes & myself finish Drilling Barley in big Brettenham field
F. Reynolds finish harrowing corner field of (wheat) twice & start harrowing big Brettenham field
W. Pearl Rolling Peas
J. Howe at home


Champion Beast at London Smithfield Show
1876 Samuel Kidner Devon Ox

April 5th.

Thursday April 5th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes & myself Drilling barley in Big Brettenham field
F. Reynolds harrowing Beans second time & start harrowing cornerfield of wheat
W. Pearl Rolling Bullacefield of Wheat
J. Howe at home

April 4th.

Wednesday April 4th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes & myself Drilling Barley in Rattlesden Meadow
F. Reynolds harrowing Winter beans & Rattlesden meadow
J. Howe at home

April 3rd.

Tuesday April 3rd. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes finish handle harrowing Big Brettenham field the second time
Myself harrowing Peas
W. Pearl Rolling Oakfield of Wheat
J. Howe at home

To Estimate the Weight of a Stack of Hay
Take the height from the ground to about 18 in. or 2 feet above the eaves with a rod; measure the length, halfway between ground and eaves, allowing about 18 in. at both ends for outsides; similarly measure the width. Multiply height, length, and breadth together in terms of yards and decimals of yards, in order to find the cubical contents, and divide by 8,9,10,11, or 12, according to judgment. This will give the number of tons in the rick. Or, if the calculation is made in terms of feet, divide the number of cubic feet in the rick by 216, 243, 270, 297, or 324, which numbers correspond in terms of feet with the above numbers in terms of yards. According to Ewart the extreme between very inferior clover and bent hay in small stacks and the best quality of old hay in large stacks, varies between 6 yards (162 c. feet) and 14 yards (378 c. feet) to the ton.

April 2nd.

Monday April 2nd. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes Handle harrowing in Big Brettenham field
myself Cultivating Rattlesden meadow
W. Pearl Rolling cornerfield of wheat
J. Howe at home

April 1st.

Sunday April 1st. 1923

Fine
At home

from Farm Work for the Year - April
Arable Farm: All spring-sown grass should be got in this month at latest. Potato-planting, too, should be finished in April. Early potatoes are earthed up by the double-mould board plough as a protection against frost. Kohl rabi may be sown in April either as on seed land, to be transplanted, or as turnips are in rows when the crop is to stand. Beans may be horse-hoed, and wheat, when the land is dry, may be harrowed and rolled and hoed.

March 31st.

Saturday March 31st. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes handle harrowing Big Brettenham field the second time
myself light harrowing Peas
J. Howe at home

Memoranda
Mar. 31st.
E. Mayes full week 30/0
Three Extra men
Threshing and Chaff Cutting 7/6 each

March 30th.

Friday March 30th. 1923

Fine
At home
Cutting Chaff 5 1/2 hours
E. Mayes. J. Friston. H. Bird. B. Earl.
J. Howe at home

March 29th.

Thursday March 29th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes handle harrowing in the morning
Threshing in the afternoon
36 Combs of Wheat
Joe Friston, H. Bird, & B. Denny 1/2 day
J. Howe at home

March 28th.

Wednesday March 28th. 1923

Fine
All at home
E. Mayes handle harrowing for barley on big Brettenham field
J. Howe at home

from Agricultural Review of the Year 1922
Seeds hay gave a total crop of only 1,732,000 tons, which is the smallest production since 1893, and about 400,000 tons less than in 1921. The yield per acre of 22.7 cwts is 1 3/4 cwts. less than last year, and 5 3/4 cwts. below the ten-year average. It will be understood that these figures apply to the area of seeds actually cut for hay, and take no account of the area of seeds ploughed up. Yields were very light in practically every county, though they were relatively better in the North and in Wales, than in other parts of the country.

March 27th

Tuesday March 27th. 1923

Fine
Go to Ipswich
E. Mayes handle harrowing for barley on big Brettenham field
J. Howe at home

March 26th

Monday March 26th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes & myself Carting muck for Mangold
J. Howe at home

Farm Work for the Year
March:
Special Subjects:
Water meadows are now productive for ewes and lambs. Farm accounts ought to occupy attention. Your year, if it began at Lady day, terminates then, and valuations of stock and crop are required to complete your year's accounts. Chicory is sometimes cultivated for forage; 5 lb of seed per acre may be sown broadcast on any land in good tilth. Teazels, too, may be sown, one acre for every four intended for next year's crop, to provide plants for transplanting.

March 25th

Sunday March 25th. 1923

Fine
All at home

March 24th.

Saturday March 24th. 1923

Fine
At home
E. Mayes Carting Beet & Litter
J. Howe at home

Memoranda
Mar. 17th.
E. Mayes full week 30/0
J. Howe 5 days £1..0..10

March 23rd

Friday March 23rd. 1923

Showerey (sic)
At home
E. Mayes handle harrowing on big Brettenham field have to leave off, take Colt Charlie to be shod the first time
J. Howe at home

from Agricultural Review of the Year 1922

The growth of hay was retarded by the cold, dry spring, and much of the seeds was a thin plant as a result of the drought of 1921, so that hay crops were also very unsatisfactory. Most of the seeds hay was secured in good condition, but the bulk of the meadow hay was more or less weathered, and the quality of a fair proportion was impaired owing to delay in cutting.

March 22nd.

Thursday March 22nd. 1923

Fine
Meet Mr. Valiant with Tommy at Finningham Station and say goodbye to Tom
E. Mayes at home in the Yards feeding things
J. Howe finish Light harrowing Brettenham field the second time & start Handle harrowing same