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.
A diary kept by Fred Knott in 1923, when he was 46, detailing working life on his Fen Farm at Rattlesden, near Stowmarket. There were 84 acres of land, worked with horses; Fred reared pigs and bullocks, and grew crops which included potatoes, turnips, swede and sugar beet. Four men worked for Fred, including a head horseman. The days were 12 hours long, with only Sundays and Christmas Day off - and, of course, the animals still needed attention on those days too.
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