222 A FARMER'S YEAR 



steam-saw that, on account of the awkwardness of their size or 

 shape, the most skilful sawyers in the world could not deal with ; 

 moreover, the saving of time and labour is something enormous. 

 There is a common idea that any labourer can cut timber with a 

 steam-saw, but this is not the case. Doubtless anyone can cut it 

 after a fashion, but to make the most of the stuff and avoid spoil- 

 ing any requires judgment, eye, and experience. 



In the timber room of the Horse-buildings, Robson, the labour- 

 ing carpenter, is engaged in mending the wheels of an old pony- 

 cart. Now, to make a wheel, or even to set some spokes in it, is 

 a thing that looks easy, but, as a matter of fact, it demands much 

 skill and practice ; indeed to do it properly is something of a 

 gift. This particular wheelwright is only a hedge carpenter, with- 

 out even a shop of his own, but he has the reputation of being 

 able to ' set ' a wheel better than anyone about here, and certainly 

 his work is always very sound and good. 



Wheat is now down to forty-seven shillings a quarter, after 

 having been up to fifty-five a week or two ago. These fluctuations 

 show how artificial was the violent rise in price and what an un- 

 certain crop is corn in these days. Before the year is out it may 

 once more be selling at twenty-five shillings. 



This evening I saw five curlew passing over the Bath Hills 

 and travelling sou'-west. These are the first curlew that I have 

 ever seen in this neighbourhood, though some months ago I heard 

 one calling. By the way, when shooting at Earsham last winter 

 I saw four wild swans flying about the river, and a beautiful sight 

 they were. But these lovely birds look best of all floating like foam 

 on the black breast of some mountain-circled tarn in Iceland. 



June 8. To-day we have been horse- and hand-hoeing on the 

 All Hallows field, No. 29, where, although I believed the land to 

 be clean, plenty of weeds have put in an appearance, for last season's 

 drought and this season's rain have brought them up with a ven- 

 geance. When I pointed them out, Buck, who is by nature a 

 laudator temporis acti, remarked sarcastically that there was a new 



