JULY 271 



as, notwithstanding the nipping breeze, yesterday was fine and sun- 

 shiny, an ideal haymaking day. We have carted the remainder 

 of the hay on Nos. 10 and n, and cut a little more of the back 

 lawn, No. 7. I noticed that the stacks at All Hallows and at 

 Baker's are leaning a good deal ; indeed they have been supported 

 with props. Their bent seems to be towards the direction of the 

 prevailing winds that is, to the north and east. This I cannot 

 understand, as they ought to lean the other way. The theory, I 

 believe, is that the wind blows the heat in the stack to the further 

 side, where the increased warmth, acting on the hay, causes it to 

 ferment and sink quicker than on the face that is left cool. 

 The practice on my farm this year, however, seems to be the other 

 way about. Possibly however, this is due to indifferent stacking. 



To-day we began to cut the three-oak or ' Brittle ' meadow, No. 9, 

 so called because tradition says that a brickfield once existed in 

 this field, where, owing to its having been shut down so late, the 

 grass is somewhat thinner than elsewhere. Buck, by nature a 

 critic, is of opinion that the back lawn was cut too soon, 

 before the hay had got its proper growth ; a proceeding, he added, 

 ' that minded him of killing a sucking pig.' I cannot say that I 

 altogether agree with him, for grass mown before it has attained 

 quite its full growth makes the best and most succulent hay ; 

 also we must be getting on, or we shall have harvest upon us 

 before haysel is done and the roots are thinned out. 



Whether it was cut too soon or- not, the back lawn this year 

 has certainly borne a good crop of beautiful quality. That lawn 

 offers a busy and picturesque sight this afternoon. By the low 

 fence at the top end the mower is still at work, as, even when it 

 is hidden behind the trees, may be known by the sound of its 

 rattling hum. Near at hand, by the tennis-court, a boy leads the 

 horse-tosser, and it passes to and fro surrounded with a very halo 

 of whirling grass, through which the light shines as it floats and falls. 

 In another part of the field the horse-rake is dragging the hay 

 opened up previously from the cocks into long dull green lines, 

 down which come the waggon and cart to be laden, each in 



