Country Life
THE following advertisemcLt, which appears in a local paper in the Home Counties, liar; a certain historical value, and is singularly significant :— WINDRIDGE FARM,
SALE OF GROWING CROPS OF CORN.
MESSRS.
Are favoured with instructions from to sell by auction on the premises on FRIDAY NEXT, AUGUST 5TH, 1927, at 5 p.m. precisely, in lots about
86 ACRES OF GROWING CROPS OF CORN,
with the Straw to go off, comprising :- 42 ACRES OF WHEAT, 8 ACRES OF WINTER OATS,
35 ACRES OF BARLEY.
For the first time in my experience a considerable number of farmers are offering to sell their crops standing, leaving to others the work of cutting, carrying, threshing, and the rest. The reasons are in some cases actual lack of labour, in others need of immediate money coupled with an inability or reluctance to pay out money for prospective profit. Personally I know large country villages in which you will have much ado to discover one single farm labourer. Are we coming to a time when the producer (as indeed happens already with certain strawberry growers) will be merely the salaried agent of some merchant or distributor ; and the crops of corn, as of hops, peas, or small fruit, be gathered in by peripatetic gangs ?
* * * *
Previous page
