Scope and Content
This transcript has been prepared by a member of the Stanton family. It has not been checked for accuracy, but is substantially correct.
9th Began Harvest. Began reaping in 2 fields at Brookend, the wheat is quite green enough & the weather cool. Have quite enough straw but expect the wheat to be deficient & the quality inferior in many places.
11th Began reaping at Churchend, the wheat being green at this time.
17th Began to plough the pea land which is very hard.
21st Began wheat cart it was in very good order.
Began reaping the Rivetts.
23rd Finished cutting wheat except the Rivetts Finished ploughing the pea land.
25th Began mowing barley which is not a heavy crop but appears to have a good ear.
27th Began barley carting. Put it in the barn, finished mowing.
28th Began mowing beans.
30th Borrowed Mr Brownings horse drag & dragged the barley 8 acres, began after 2 oclock, got done about 7. ‘ I went behind liked it much better than helping to drag it by hand.
31st Finished Barley carting.
September 3rd. Finished reaping the Rivett wheat, cut it by the day. & carted it. Began bean cart but stopt on account of it being to dry.
4th Finished carting and began thatching.
6th Finished weighing beans, 7th Finished harvest.
8th Began to plough tilthe for barley.
9th Scuffled the pea land where we intend to have wheat.
10th Began to manure the tilthe for barley when I had emptied 1 load it came a thunder rain which stopt me.
12th It was very windy it blew the top of one of our Bean stacks off right below the hock.
13th There was more wind still as we were at plough we could see 2 wheat stacks with the tops blown off belonging to our neighbours, we heard that some of our other neighbours had some stacks part stripped.
14th It began the day for the recognition services at Wilden. Mr Burt from Bedford is settled for their Minister. Rebekah and some other young friends went, so I went in the evening we got home soon after 11 oclock when I was tired as I had been to plough all the morning. It rained very near all the way home.
15th Began to plough for wheat, this was bean stubble at Brookend.
18th Manured the little field which is wheat stubble. I think its to be winter beans.
21st Finished ploughing the little field. Today we broke a black filly in named Brush, 2 years old which went well at scuffle.
22nd Began to plough bean stubble at Churchend.
23rd September. Thrashed the first wheat stack with Brightman’s machine. Thrashing 6 ½ hours did not get on very fast & made a great deal of rail. Had about 25 loads 2 bushels Charge for thrashing 19s . 6d.
A little about the cutting at harvest for reaping gave 11s and acre. It was a good crop not down very much. For mowing & tieing and dragging Wheat 8s. 6d. An acre. For mowing barley give 3s.0d and acre Had the beans all done by the day.
25th Finished manureing the tilthe for barley & manured the 2 acre bit for winter beans. I went to Bedford and sold 8 ½ quarters of wheat 62lbs at 47s a qtr. To Mr Newbury of Milton Mills. Amount £19. 19s 6d. I also wanted to buy a ram but did not find one to suit.
30th Eli went to St Neots Market and bought a three shear Hampshire Down ram for 59 s. One that had been used 2 years by Mr Blott of Agden Green, he said when he bought it he gave 7 pounds for it. I believe it to be a very good sheep Father is well suited too October 1st turned him with the ewes.
1st It being the Agricultural show at Bedford 2 of our Farmers sons went to plough Richard Oliver being over age had to plough in the Champion Class for Farmers sons, this was the first time him ploughing at a match, but he gained the prize a silver cup
value £5.
Charles King being under 19 years of age went in the boys class he also gained the first prize a silver cup value £5. There was only 1 other competitor in the class which was Joseph Woodruff of Riseley . These two ploughed last year but another young man gained the prize.
2nd I went to Bedford Market to take the money for the wheat I sold 6 qtrs more 62lbs at 46s to Mr Banks of Pertenhall. I also bought 10 long woolled thrives at £2 each of Mr Warrington. Father did not like them as they are small they are not so large as I should like, but it seems a hard matter to suit yourself at Bedford as the greater part of them have a cross. I think they will cut about 7 ½ ponds of wool each next shear day. Have 36 ewes now.
4th Began to plough tilthe on the 4 acre bit of wheat.
7th Began setting winter beans with single dib 2 men.
8th Began to plough the 2 acre bit for winter beans & begun to set it too. It appears to set much the best directly after it is ploughed, after it is harrowed.
9th Began to give the milking cow chaff and flour.
11th Let the cows lie in at night. Its my opinion that they are much the best in this time of the year, if we do not give them anything as they will be making manure. The weather is beautiful today finished ploughing for winter beans.
12th Finished ploughing the tilthe on the 4 acre bit which is for rivetts.
13th Scuffled it.
14th Scuffled the bean stubble at Brookend the second time over. Used the best old beans.
1st Father bought 1 load of tares for 3s 5d of Moses Topham.
12th. Finished setting winter beans have 3 acres put a little over 2 ½ bushels to the acre. Give --- for setting.
15th Began to plough the new ground for tares.
16th Sowed about 2 acres out in 5 bushels went in well.
19th Had a cow calved with as good cow calf. This cow was bulled at Olivers at first but as she did not seem to stand to the bull, Father took her to Mr Hartops the last time where she was bulled. Father took her himself so I know it to be true. This was 12th April, I have it booked to me have been expecting her to calve in January about the 17th. About 4 days ago, Father said to me don’t you think the old cow will slip calve, I think her bag is springing. The day following he asked me my opinion about taking her to Brookend away from the others as he thought if she slipt her calf, the heifers would too. I agreed with him and he took her down. One thing I noticed about the cow betimes that was looking rather big but my look seemed to tell me that she would calve next January. So I did not notice her much. She has not much milk has she has not had any corn.
Auburn Weekly News Cayuga County Agricultural Society held their twenty ninth annual fair on Thursday September 23rd 1869. We notice that Levi received 3 prizes for regal vegetables. For the best ½ bushel of carrots, 1 Dollar. For the best six squashes, 1 Dollar. For the best and greatest variety of vegetables, 2 Dollars. I looking down the columns I find one piece more about him. Levi Stanton of Aurelius occupies not less that one third of the counter devoted to vegetables and has one of the finest and largest variety we have ever seen at any Fair. His tomatoes are superior to any we have ever seen before, while the balance of his display proves him to be of excellent judgement and one who understands the theoretical as well as the practical portion of his duties.
21st Began wheat seeding. Drilled the 4 acre bit Rivells with the 26 cog put on about 1 bushel 3 pecks to the acre which went in well.
23rd I went to Bedford Market and sold the cow and calf for £18. 10s. The cow was rather bare and aged, bag & calf pretty good. Father bought her last year at £17. 15 in better condition than she is now. He promised to give mother all that she over.(?)
Finished ploughing the wheat except for 1 headland.
30th . Finished drilling the field behind the house all but the endland. We have harrowed it twice over had the little harrows on the big ones & had 4 horses & clotted it, it came 2 very sharp frosts after it was harrowed but it did not seem to make much difference as it was so very dry. I told father if it was mine I would have left it until November as I am not an advocate for putting wheat in very dry. Father said it was quite near enough November. Last night it came a nice rain we had about 2 hours work to do this morning which I liked much better than I did before although it tilled well before & lay very nicely after it harrowed, in a nice round clot.
Drilled Bromwich wheat with the 28 cog.
2nd November. Drilled nearly 3 acres at Brookend with Bromwich wheat, had the 26 cog in. Today finished wheat seeding all but one endland which is not ploughed & finished drilling lotments, have drilled 13 pieces with one horse.
8th Finished ploughing barley tilthe the weather has been very good.
9th Began to give the sturks (?) corn.
10th Let the sheep lie in and give them pea straw. Today began to plough for beans.
15th Today I have drilled 4 acres of winter beans 18 inches wide with the 14 cog put on 2 bushels to the acre. This was for Mr Hawkes he says they will be thick enough. For my own part I should like to have them in thicker a drilled them a month sooner. I think then they would have a better crop but we cannot tell. Had it drilled again in the spring.
17th Took the ram away from the ewes & sold him for £2. 12. 6.
Today went to plough & forgot to milk that is what I never done before. Sometimes I milk before breakfast & sometimes after.
This time I went in to fetch the pail the breakfast happened to be ready so I had it and never thought anymore about milking until dinner when Rebekah told me & then could not help laughing. Finished dressing ewes have 36 give a score.
18th Finished wheat seeding at Hawkes drilled 23 acres, 24 cog.
20th Finished ploughing what we have ready at present
27th Began to give the sheep hay in the morning & barley straw at night.
December 4th I went to Bedford Market and sold 62 quarters of wheat, 62 at 43s 6d a quarter to Mr Hipwell. This was honed (?) at Harvest and sold it before it was dressed. Mr Hipwell bid me 44s by measure but I thought it would weigh more so therefore I sold it weight. When I weighed it it wanted about 1 pint & half to make it up. Give 1s 10p a load for thrashing, me are now having 10s a week.
18th I went to Bedford Market & sold 7 quarters of barley at 37s a qtr. To Mr White of Kempston. Our barley is not so good in quality this year & the trade being lower too makes the price very different to what it was last year. Give 2s 3d a qrt. for thrashing
27th Finished cleaning the yards out put most of it in a muckle this is for beans.
Today I began to give the sheep a few beans in the straw or rather I should call it sham but it is as it growed. These are the small tick. I don’t know how I shall have to give the sheep them when they begin to lamb o give them enough it should take so long. Father was saying some time back that the sheep must have to have them in the straw this year as they are not worth thrashing. At the time I thought I could not agree with that as I have been giving them split beans in chaff the last few years so that I knew how many they had. I cannot imagine how I shall do to get enough in the cribs for them out of this stack, when they begin to lamb. But I think it would be a folly to thrash them so I will try to do the sheep with them & see how they will do. The sheep done very bad got very low.
David’s Diaries. 1870.
January 2nd 1870. This was Sunday I drove over to Dean Steam Mills to see Jonathan Bettles. Took Rebekah, Naomi Taylor & William Gillett, went to chapel morning & evening, stayed at home in the afternoon got home about 10 oclock at night.
8th Went to Bedford Market & sold 8 ½ quarters of barley to Jabez Paine at 37s 6d a qtr. £15.16.9. I also bought 3 qtrs of maize at 33s a qtr of Mr Church of Bolnhurst.
11th Manured about 4 acres for beans in Row field.
13th Finished manuring for beans this was in Brookend in top field.
15th Thrashed the second wheat stack with Brightmans machine. Thrashed a little over 5 hours. Had 25 loads 2 bushels. Charged 16s 6d.
After we had finished thrashing I took the drum to Mr Farrers of Thurleigh. One of the men went and we had 4 horses when we got there we found it a narrow gateway & we did not go quite far enough along the road so the hind wheel went to near the ditch there our horses stopped & would not start any more so we had to leave it there it was up hill to go into the close. It was planned for them to fetch the engine on Monday morning so the drum would have to stand till then as their horses are at the other place.
17th Began plough again today we have not been to plough for over 8 weeks.
22nd Finished plough for beans at Churchend.
26th Finished plough for beans at Brookend it was a sharp frost this morning so the ploughing did not do well the end lands almost to hard to plough. As we was coming down the last time at the side of the edge, the plough caught a root and snapped the neck in two just behind the share.
27th I went to St Neots Market & sold 62 qtr of wheat 62lbs to Mr Clarke of Wellingborough at 40s 6d a qtr. Father went to Bedford market to sell it on Saturday last but did not sell, he was bid 41s he thought of making 6d more, so he said he would not take that but he could not get it. We have 12 ½ qtrs but as I could not get as much as Father was bid I would not sell over 6 qtrs.
After I get home & had my tea I went to a wedding & birthday party at Mr Wilkinsons when I got there the party were playing cards at the game called speculation. I was asked to join them I told them I never had played nor seen anyone else. So I consented to play & at supper time I was money in pocket, as I was at supper I thought if the others were willing to give it up, I was, but they began again & then we kept it up until about 3 o’clock. I made up my mind that I would keep in as long as the others if it was until 6 o’clock. I would rather have kept in longer that we did as I was money out of pocket.
I found that I lost 3s & ½ this was the first time me playing & I hope it’s the last. It was not because I wished to play that I did, but because I did not like be odd at the party.
29th Father went to Bedford market & sold the other wheat, 7 ½ qtr to Mr Hipwell at 40s a qtr.
One of the ewes slipt lamb.
3rd February 1870.
I sent a letter to Levi.
12th Got the manure out of the sheep yard which we intend putting on the Mangold Wurtzels
15th Cleaned the horse yards out we intend putting this manure on the spring tares & roots of some kind or other I believe.
We have some sharp weather at this time it began a week ago on the 13th it was very cold but the last two days there has been more sun. The wheat looked very bare
22nd Sold 9 pigs 12 weeks old to Emerton, 30s each.
24th Began to set beans at Brookend with double dibs, Give ---- an acre.
25th Began to harrow at Churchend for peas and beans in Row Field, but it is not hardly dry enough.
Began lambing the first ewe brought 1 lamb.
26th Drilled the peas which went in well but it was heavy work, this was the other side of Row Field. Drilled them about 8 inches had the 14 cog. Drilled 12 bushels I believe we got them in to thick as I don’t think we done 3 acres but don’t know exactly what there is.
Began to drill beans next to them 13 inches wide which I believe to be narrow for my part.
I should like to have had them 15 or 16 inches should not care to have them any wider. Had the 14 cog I believe we put on near 3 bushels to the
acre.
26th Finished bean seeding at Church End. Drilled them all, don’t know whether they will come well as they appear to be a larger bean than we have in general. They went in well.
March 1st 1870. Finished setting at Brookend.
5th. I went to Bedford Market and sold 5 qtrs of wheat 62lbs to W. Hipwell at 39s a qtr. This was a pretty good sample. Father sold 1 ewe skin at 5s. This was one of the old ones, Which appears to be worn out, but she had a good lamb inside her.
8th One ewe brought 3 lambs which are all alive she had 3 last year and 2 the year before. This is the third time of her lambing.
11th The 3 lambs are all alive at present and I think they will live if nothing overtakes them, they are all with the mother but I give them a little milk once a day. Today we have had 4 sheep lambed which have 5 lambs and I expect another to lamb before I go to bed we have 26 lambs at this time.
15th Began to scuffle the barley tilthe which is not hardly dry enough.
18th Finished barley seeding it did not go in quite so dry as I could wish although it is a very good tilthe. Drilled it with the 20 cog put on 2 ½ bushel to the acre. Drilled our own seed. This was on the 8 acre bit in the bottom field. (We had a light crop.)
19th Today I have been to drill at Mr Wilkinsons. Drilled 5 acres of barley. Began a few minutes after 7 o’clock, done 21 minutes before 2 o’clock. This was in 2 different fields & 3 pieces. I think we done it quick. Drilled it with the 18 cog put a little over 15 bushels. Today Father stitched a piece on the new ground where we intend planting Kohl Rabbis. This evening we have cut 29 lambs tails.
21st Stitched about 1 acre for mangold wurtzels in front field.
23rd. Manured it.
24th Carted the manure on for Rabbis. It has been a nice frosts these mornings.
25th Ploughed the manure in where we intend to plant cabbages.
28th Ploughed the manure in for mangold wurtzels.
26th Father went ton Bedford market & sold 6 quarters of wheat. 62 lbs to Mt Hipwell at 41s 6d a qtr.
29th Finished lambing, have 35 ewes & 43 lambs, had 1 slipt lamb and 2 guest (?) ones, have had a good lambing only lost 3 lambs.
30th Finished ploughing the manure in for Rabbi’s.
April 2nd. Robert Barnet has been thrashing beans today, got done dressing at 3 o’clock had under 2 ½ bushels. When we took them in we had the big cart & had 2 fair loads, when we dressed the small ones out we had just about 3 bushels.
March 31st. (Going backwards.) Began to give the sheep chaff & corn in the troughs and put the cribs out. They have had 1 stack of beans in the straw these were the small tick. There was over 4 acres in it and I cut down the stack we are using now which we reckoned to better than the others. We have not had the sheep so poor for some years before, nor so short of milk either. We have ten lambs that we give milk at this time.
I am giving the sheep 1 peck of maize & 1 peck of beans a day.
April 4th. Ploughed the manure in for Spring tares. Began to joe winter beans, give 3d.
5th Rolled the wurtzel land and rabbi too.
6th Began to set the Wurtzels.
7th Began to roll the wheat with Mr Bates Cambridge roll.
8th We have rolled 16 acres, had three horses, began yesterday between 3 & 4 got done today about 2 oclock. Charged 2s 6d. Finished hoeing winter beans, Give 3s. Began hoeing wheat, give 3s an acre.
6th Blackwell looked at a 3 year old steer bit £12. 10s. But father did not sell him.
9th Sent 8 couples to W. Stafford sale which were sold at 35s a couple. Father would not have sold them at the price at home, but as he sent them there he did not wish to bring them home again. The ewes were from 7 to 9 years old & very poor The lambs were half breds which were young and small.. Our sheep are in the worst condition this year than they have been since I had the management of them. I believe it is on account of being so short of corn & not having any roots. Today Mr Church bid father money for Charlie, he is a bay horse rising 5 years olds, I believe him to stand 16 hands high perhaps more he is by Cornerstone out of one of our cart mares. Mr Church wanted him cheaply to take his wife & family to Bedford Chapel on Sundays in a four wheel he had tried him in it and I believe likes him very well but he thinks the price to much. Father asked him £30 he bid 28. Then father offered to throw him £1 chop money but he thought he had bid the worth of him so they did not bargain.
13th Bonny foaled with a good horse foal by Martin’s grey horse Champion.
14th Mr Hipwells son came over and bought Charlie at £30 so we have no nag to take us to market now. Father did not think of selling him but people seems to take fancy to him & I think it is quite the worth of him as he has one big hock which was through a kick & has one of his hips knocked by running against the barn corner.
The rabbi seed was old seed give 2s. 6d a lb.
14th Drilled the rabbis on the new ground, had our own drill took two stitches at a time. Had the 20 cog & let 2 holes run. If I was going to drill any more I would rather (25)
have a small drill to take 2 stitch at a time.
16th Turned the sheep on the ryegrass. There is not much keep.
19th Turned Bonny & foal in Barn Close but she did not seem to like it as there is not much grass. Set the potatoes in Row Field, stitched it for them, they are gone in rather dry.
22nd. I went to Mr Smith’s sale at Riseley grange with the intent of buying ewe lamblings. I did not find them quite so large not woolly as I expected to although they appeared very healthy. I examined them & thought if I had any should like the first pen but they made 49s which I thought was too much. The second made 46s these I valued at 42s.and the first at 2s more. I then gave it up as they were selling the cows I heard one man say to another that all the sheep made 5s more that they were worth but did not believe it, he said he could bought 5s a head cheaper at Thrapston on Tuesday. The coupled were very poor & lambs small which varied from about 46s to about 56s a couple.
The cow stock was good and sold dear.
The horses were young and realised high prices. There was 12 cart horses including 2 two year old cobs& 1 cob which I believe made £12.10. The cart horses if I mistake not all made over 320 each. There was 8 if nor more that made £30 each & upwards 2 that made over 340 each.
23rd Father went to Bedford market & bought 10 lamb hogs at about 44s each I believe them to cut over 8lb of wool each. He also sold a 2 year old steer to Blackwell for £13s. 10. But did not take it to market. Father bought ¾ cwt of old clover seed at 6s a lb. & qtr cwt of trefoil fro 5s of Mr Church.
26th Sowed the seeds mixed them together & sowed them for sheep keep, sowed 7 acres.
Today 1 ewe burst after going on the clover, let them on about 2 hours yesterday for the first time, today I let them on at dinnertime, she was cast when I found her. She has left 2 lambs.
Began to hoe peas. Give 3s an acre.
29th Began to hoe the 4 acr4e bit of wheat.
30th Began to hoe Spring beans.
May 2nd. I went to Mr Elgoods of St Neots to fetch 16 cwt of manure for Mr J. Hartop.
4th Finished thrashing barley. Had 33 qtrs 2lbs off of 7 ½ acres.
Let the sheep lie out for the first time.
Finished hoeing the peas the first time over. Give 3s.
Sowed 3 ½ bushels of spring tares which went in dry. I sowed them ----with one hand the lands were small, went 1 bout a land.
5th Emerton looked at 2 heifers nearly 1 ½ years old which are small& 1 white one, they are in pretty good condition. He only bid £16. 10 for the 2.
6th Mr Nash of Stow called at fathers & bought the heifers at £16.
Today finished wheat hoeing & began the barley which looks but very middling. Father says he thinks it would have been better if it had been rolled. He says he thinks it does the rivett wheat good.
7th Put the sheep in Barn close. That slipped lamb& 2 of the best lambs with then intent of parting them. Stopt giving the sheep corn.
17th Finished hoeing Spring beans the first time, give 3s.
18th Turned the milking cow out to grass.
12th Found one sheep with gut maggots for the first time this season.
19th Finished thrashing wheat. Thrashing 7 hours with Mr Desborough,s machine. Charged £1. 4. 6d. Had about ?
18th Finished hoeing winter the second time over. Give 3s. 6d.
21st Father went to Bedford Market & sold 6 qtrs of red wheat at 62th £1. 6. 6. & 6 qtrs of rivet 62th at £1.5.6. A load to Mr Hipwell.
23rd. Finished hoeing peas the second time. Give (?)
24th Turned the dry cows out to grass & left off giving them corn, let them be in at night & give them wheat cavings.
26th Finished barley hoeing. Give 3s an acre.
Washed the sheep down at the back in a tub but for my own part I like to take them to Riseley better.
25th Began to hoe Spring beans the second time over.
31st Finished hoeing the rabbi’s the first time over.
1st June. Began to hoe the Winter beans the third time.
2nd Finished shearing except one which has a bad bag. The 10 lamb hogs which I thought would cut over 8 lbs each only cup 76 lbs. The theaves which I bought last Michelmas time I thought would cat about 7 lb each. I have left one of them the other 9 only cut 58lbs which si only 6 ½ lbs each.. I make some allowances for this an account of giving them so little corn. They are very poor at this time The ewe that has 3 lambs cut over 8 lbs.
3rd. Began to hoe the wurtzels which are very thin and small. I cannot hardly see them after I have hoed it if I stand in the end lands.
Began to hoe the Church End Spring beans the second time over.
8th Finished hoeing the wurtzels the first time over. I then began to hoe beans for the first time this season.
16th I finished my piece which was only about 5 roods. I don’t think I shall have any more bean hoeing to do this year.
This has been a very dry summer we had a little rain at barley seeding which stopped us one day at drill, we have not had any to speak about since.. Some people are afraid we will not have any hay time. Mr Browning has turned his stock in all his mowing grass. John Wise has too. Mr W’ Hartop has in part of his, if I mistake not Olivers are grazing all their swade. Father don’t know what to do about trying to mow some days he thinks he will turn the stock in & other times he is about ready to try to mow it as we have not many tares only have 2 acres of the tares and they are light, or else he says if they was good he would mow them for hay and eat the grass. He says if we was to turn the stock in the grass he dare not mow all the tares for fear we should be short of keep. We are about out of hay so therefore he does not know what to do. We don’t like the thought of doing without any hay it don’t appear as if there would be any chance of buying any. Father was telling us this lunchtime that he asked Eli to begin to mow the leys. However Eli did not think much of it as he says he could not cut it so he did not begin. Father said he thought of sending up for Robert to try to mow some parts up Church Close where is was the best. This morning he has been to look at it again & says he thinks it would be throwing both the money and the beer away to mow it. He has ask me my opinion about it. I have told him after looking over it I told him if it was mine I would leave it longer if we could do without it as it was my opinion that it would grow if it came wet enough. This evening it came a nice thunder shower. I think most people must be very pleased to see it.
17th Today it is showery too the thunder is not gone off yet. I think now the grass will grow. Began to set the Rabbis on the wurtzel land
Today sold the 37 fleeces of wool to Mr Green of Greensbury at 34s : 6d a load, weighed 9 load 2st. £151:13:0.
18th We have been setting Rabbi plants again today, 6 of us, but is not quite so good a day for it as it is more drying than yesterday. I went to drill turnips at half past 6 in the evening for John Wise.
20th Today I have been setting Rabbis on the new ground where they was missed but they have come well. I think the ground is getting too dry for setting out now.
Tonight let Bonny and foal lie out for the first time but continue giving her half a peck of corn a day.
21st I have been hoeing potatoes today there are several that are not up yet but most of them are coming up now.
Tonight let the cows lie out for the first time but give them their chaff as usual the milkers has 1 sifting of chaff & corn a day. The others have chaff without any corn & eat it well.
June 11th Sent two fat lambs to Mr Staffords sale which made 36s:6d each these are been in Barn Close but have not had corn. When we got home put 4 more of the best in the Close for the purpose of taking them sometime.
22nd Dipped the lambs with the machine.
22nd Finished hoeing Spring beans the second time. Give ….an acre. Men are now having 10s a week.
25th Father sold a downcalving cow at Bedford Market for £18: 5s. One that he bought last July at £17. Sent 3 fat pigs to Mr Staffords sale which made £9 : 16s. Sold the best by weight which made …. A score weighed.
28th Began Hay Time, but there is not any grass worth mowing. Robert mowed 1 day in Church close & then stopped.
29th Turned the mare & foal & cows in Church Close. Today began to plough the fallow in Church Field which ploughs well.
Left off giving the cow chaff & corn.
July 5th Mowed about 2 acres of tares on the New Ground for hay, they are not a very heavy crop. Give … an acre.
8th Finished ploughing Church field. We was only 8 days and a bit. If I mistake not we had 1 share on over 6 days. Ploughed it with three horses, the mare that has a foal I give 1&½ pecks of corn today, the other 2, 2 pecks of corn a day.
7th Began folding.
11th Keysoe & St Neots cricketers played a match at Keysoe. Keysoe winning with 8 wickets to fall. They have played Milton this season, beat them with 9 wickets to fall. They have been to Wilden too & beat them with 1 innings. So I think Keysoe got to be good cricketers.
12th We had a party, it being our feast. Our party consisted of myself & brother Thomas, G. Claridge, W. Wilkingson, & J. Woodward. The ladies were Miss Wadsworth of Risely, Miss Walker of Northampton, Miss Taylor and my 4 sisters.
We did not break up until 3 oclock in the morning. Miss Wadsworth went for a walk got back about 4 oclock, she then went to bed with Rebekah. I shifted my clothes & then fetched the horses ready for dung carting so that I did not have a wink of sleep all night. I enjoyed the night very much & I believe the rest did, some of them said never enjoyed themselves so much before. That was the first time I sat up all night if I mistake not.
15th Finished carting the manure out of the yards which is for the barley tilthe.
16th Carted the tares. Father said he did not think they was ant to dry. I said I thought they would not hurt although the coshed are green.
18th Began stirring ploughed it across.
20th I went to plough until after 1 o’clock & in the afternoon walked to Kimbolton tea drinking which was held at Mr T. Smiths who loves the other side of the Station. I believe it is Tillbrook. Started as soon as I could get ready after dinner. When I got there the children had not had tea so I went to have a game of cricket until tea was ready, when we rose from tea it was past 6 o’clock & then went to cricket again after a while I went & joined in the game of kiss in the ring. I enjoyed the day out very well although it was very hot. I started off to walk home soon after 8 o’clock as I was coming up Park Lane I happened of Mr Bettles waggon then rode to Pertenhall. Walked the remainder of the journey got home at 11 oclock. I think I must have walked a great many miles from getting up to get going to bed as it is 6 miles to the Station.
22nd Finished mowing peas. Give … an acre. Good crop. Began to pull the winter beans up by the day.
23rd I took 3 fat lambs to Mr Staffords sale. The best made 36s : 6d. The others 31s each. Eli had 1 fellow to them at 35s. These lambs had been in the Close just 6 weeks had not had any corn. Sold 2 the day these were put in the close at 36s : 6d each.
I took 2 samples of wheat but the markets were lower. They rose about 6s a qtr during the week but are 3 or 4 lower at this market. I made 52 s a qtr of the red & 48s of the rivetts. 62 th sold to Mr Hipwell.
26th Finished pea cart they were in very good order. Put them in the barn.
27th Finished stirring Church Field which is 8 acres, ploughed it in 8 days left off the first day at 1 oclock & 2 days at 12.
28th Began mowing wheat at both places it being in fair order.
30th Finished pulling the winter beans up & began to tie them. I think by what I see & hear 9 out of 10 of the farmers have them pulled this year on account of them being so short & corned so well, the pods being close to the ground. It looks as if it would be impossible to cut them without wasting a great many. I think they will yield well. When we was tieing Father found a single stem with 56 pods on he counted the beans there was 157. He found one more bean that took his attention more than the others. This was one that stalked out so there was 3 or 4 stems. On counting the pods he found there was 96 from one bean. These growed at Brookend in the little field. August 6th Began to mow spring beans at Brookend, they are a nice crop, give 2s: 6d an acre.
8th Began at Church end these are not so heavy they are very short & rather thin but are corned well. Eli has mowed all the spring beans this year but did not wish them as Father does not like them done by the acre.
9th Finished cutting the wheat except the rivett. Done the reaping by the day. For mowing, & tieing & dragging give 8s an acre. They were new crop not very heavy.
Began to mow barley which is not a heavy crop. Give 3s and acre. Robert Barnett mowed it all.
August 3rd. I mowed the spring tares for hay which are a light crop.
10th We carted the first wheat stack it came in showery towards dinner, some of our neighbours stopt and others kept on. We made our stack up & stopt. It was my opinion that it would have been better to have stopt if had only been for 2 hours as it dried much in the afternoon.
11th Carted the Brookend Winter beans too, put them in the barn.
12th Carted the second wheat stack & filled the barn this was in very good order.
13th Carted the tares which were in very good order. Finished mowing barley & beans.
16th Finished carting barley.
17th Finished harvest at Brookend. Begun reaping the rivett wheat which is a fair crop.
20th Finished cutting. Give 9s an acre for reaping rivetts
22nd Finished Harvest.
R. Barnett done 7 acres 1 rood of mowing & tieing & dragging wheat, mowed 7 acres 3 rood of Barley & reaped about 1 acre & 3 roods of the rivett wheat & worked 3 days by the day in about a month. Earned ……..
23rd Scuffled the pea land which was not dry enough.
25th Finished scuffling the tilthe.
27th I drove Rebekah over to Mr Whitmores of Perry in consequence of their having a party. After the tea we went to the wood to get some nuts, we enjoyed the holiday very much. We got home a few minutes before 1 oclock.
We have the horses in the yard at night.
27th Began to plough bean stubble at Brookend which does very nicely.
28th Mr W. Hartops milch cows were in the stubble fields when one of them got in a ditch it was quite dead when they found it. They tell me it was a good cow & fresh, had about 6 weeks to lie before it calved.
29th I sent J. Barnett to the bottom field to fetch our cow up for me to milk when he got there she was in the ditch. We was an hour and half before we got her out. I think there was 9 of us. We dug about & then a ladder and a rope & a pole, by these means we raised her so that she got on her feet.
I quite thought when she lie there that one of her legs were broke but when we raised her we found that she was not hurt but a very little. I am of that opinion to think that storks ought to go in the stubble and not in calf cows. Began to give the cow chaff & corn.
30th Used the last old beans.
31st Finished thatching.
September 1st.
Began to plough wheat stubble at Brookend which I do not thoroughly approve of. This is for Spring beans. I believe ploughed it with the intent of getting some of the twitch out. I think it best ploughed only once for beans.
3rd Began to plough the bean stubble at Church end.
5th Manured one acre for Winter Beans at Brookend. Put 16 good loads on it.
6th Weaned the foal.
9th Ploughed the land for winter beans at Brookend.
12th Weaned the lambs and began to give them chaff & corn, give them 3 pottles of corn between 30 of them with the intent of feeding them.
13th Let the cows lie in at night.
17th Carted the manure on the tilthe done about acre.
20th Finished ploughing bean stubble.
22nd Put the ram with the ewes have 34 this year.
Our ewes are poor this year. Our ram in a shearling one of the long wool ed breed although I call him a light skinned one, he appears to have plenty of bone but not much meat. I should like him much better if he had a better skin & more flesh on him. He was bred by Mr. W Hartop Father gave £3 : 10s for him.
24th Richard Mays has been thrashing winter beans this afternoon, he was at work by the day. When I went out from dinner it was 20 minutes after 2 oclock he had not got back from dinner then & when I we dressed at night he had over 6 bushels.
October 10th Drilled the tares with the 18 cog most of them the others with the 20 cog. Had 8 bushels of tares which cost 10s a bushel & one of winter oats which I mix with 3 bushels of tares. Drilled something less than 4 acres.
I went to Marston Woodend to Mr John Bosworths. I heard on Saturday night about 8 o’clock that Mr Harris was going to leave his farm. It belongs to Mr Bosworth. Father gave consent for me to go and see about it. I started soon after 6 o’clock on the Monday morning, walked to Bedford North Western Station & them went by train, but did not find Mr Bosworth at home. Mrs Bosworth told me that it was let. Richard Claridge had taken it on Saturday. I think that was the first time they met about it. However Henry Hanks told father he did not know they was going to leave until that week.
October 4th.
Put the lambs on the rabbis for a while.
17th Finished ploughing for winter beans.
18th Drilled a piece in bottom field. 14 inches wide with 16 cog. I cannot say how thick we put them on as I don’t know what ground there is. I don’t think they will be thick enough.
19th Had a new turnip cutter come which cost £3: 17: 6. Samuelsons make. Now we shall begin to cut the rabbis for the lambs. I think that it much the best way as they do bottle them about so much when they are fenced on them in showery weather.
22nd Began to give the lambs chaff & corn twice a day. I am now giving them 3 half pecks of beans a day.
22nd Carted the wurtzels on, had 6 loads.
24th Began Wheat seeding which does pretty well. Drilled the 2 acres with Bromwich, 28 cog.
25th Drilled about 4 acres of tilthe in Church field with Bromwich, 28 cog.
26th Drilled nearly 4 acres at Brookend with Bromwich. 28 cog.
27th Drilled 8 bushels of Essex red with the 28 cog in Row field part pea stubble & part bean stubble. The seed was grown by William Hartop.
28th Drilled Bromwich in Row field. With the 28 cog. This was on bean stubble we
have finished seeding unless we sow wheat after the mangolds & Khol Rabbi in Row field. Last week it was showery so that we begun to think we should be behind with the seeding but this has been a capital week for it, up to Saturday dinner time when it came on rain. Mr W. Hartop told Father that his drill had not stopped since Monday morning only at night up to Saturday dinner time.
25th I have notices some of the sheep taking the tup the second time. I told father I thought our tup was not any good & wished him to go to Mr Hartop to see if he would let us have another. Father went & Mr Hartop let us have 1 from his ewes, a threesham, one that he has used 3 years & talks of using him again another year. I am well suited with him as I believe him to be a very nice sheep.
31st This was quite a wet morning, our horse have had a days rest, this was the first since harvest. Began to give the dry cows corn, have 1 heifer will calve in about 6 weeks. I think she ought to have had corn before but I was not aware that her time was so near.
November 5th. I went to Bedford market & sold 16 loads of wheat, 62th at 29s a load to Mr Clarke of Wellingborough.
8th Began to give the lambs ½ a bushel of corn a day.
10th Let the dry cows lie in.
Let the sheep lie in at night & give them Barley straw.
11th Finished ploughing barley tilthe.
12th Went to Bedford Market & sold 3 qtrs of wheat at 29s a load.
I also sold a shearling ram to Mr Hartop for £2 :8s. The one that Father gave £3: 10
for.
I also bought 4 qtrs of oats 11 st. nett, off Mr Hipwell at 24s :6d.
Today began to plough on the seeds again which I believe is for peas.
14th Took the tup away from the ewes. This was one that Mr Hartop bought at Peterborough. I believe that he has tupped most of them, I cannot say whether theres any stand to the first or not. I think there may be a few.
Father bought a downcalving cow of Mr J Hartop for £14 : 15s. She is down with the third calf. She is small and poor bag, but middling. If I mistake not she is half bred Dutch. Was bred at Keysoe but I believe her mother was a Dutch. Calved before we went to bed with a nice cow calf which I think Father intends weaning.
24th Finished ploughing for peas & roots. I am of that opinion to think that the land where we intend planting roots would have been better if it had been ploughed drier as it is very dirty at plough, but the land is not very wet.
25th Began to plough for Spring beans this was wheat stubble in the 4 acre bit.
30th Cleaned the Brookend yards out & put it in a heap this is for beans.
We have finished thrashing the winter beans which growed on the 2 acre bit. We had 13 loads & ½ as near as I can calculate.
December 2nd.
Finished the Kohl Rabbis on Row field & put the lambs on those in the New ground. 3rd. Finished ploughing that piece in Row field which ploughed pretty well as the weather has been very favourable for eating them off.
Ploughed it with then intent of sowing it wheat if the weather permits.
Began to give the ewes chaff & corn.
5th Began to cart the manure out for Beans at Churchend. We began to make a heap but as it was a nice frost, when we got to where is was that we began to cart it on the
and. John Barnett was driving, he is about 11 years of age, as he was taking one of the big carts home empty he fell down and called out woe. I was in the field at the heap, I heard him call out & thought by his voice that he was run over. I turned round & just as I looked the wheel passed over him which frightened me very much.
I started off to run & almost in an instant he jumped up and called out hasn’t hurt me. He said it never hurt him a bit although it went somewhere from his left hip over his right shoulder it seemed to go nearly up his back. This was on a cartroad in bottom field.
6th Today I have give the ewes 7 bushels of chaff. There is 34 of them. I am giving them half a peck of beans & half a peck of white heads a day in the chaff. Our hay is tares & cut about half hay for the sheep & lambs. Horses and cows have nothing but straw in chaff, cut peas straw instead of hay.
17th Father went to Bedford market & sold 6 ½ qtrs pf Barley at 35s to Mr Murfin of Great Staughton.. He also bought 4 qtrs 11 st. nett at 24s.
19th Sold a white heifer downcalving to Mr Blackwell for £15. She was about 2 years & ¾ old was small but had a fair bag.
It was said that she was worth £13 : 10 last April when the steer was sold that was with her. If so I think she has not paid much for her keep.
20th As the white heads are gone I give the ewes one half peck more of beans a day which brings it about half pint each.
21st Today I give the lambs half a peck more beans instead of barley which brings it more than a pint each. I hope it will not be so much.
24th Carted the manure on for beans at Brookend which went on well.
27th Finished manuring for beans. This was at Churchend.
28th As we cannot get the engine we have took the first wheat stack in the barn to thrash by hand although it is mowed wheat.
We wanted the engine to thrash this & 4 acres of rivetts. Fetched 18 cwt of coal ready a week and go or more. But as we have taken this in we intend letting the rivetts stand longer.