A HARVEST HOME 



but to talk about the land, crops and stock, and 

 the importance of the country-side as a unit in the 

 national picture. 



To illustrate my point a little further, let me 

 make an attempt to picture such a gathering which 

 took place on my farm last week. The barn 

 building, holding about lOO, was cleaned up — this, 

 by the by, I rather expect in most cases is not 

 overdue — the electric light laid on, and the tables 

 nicely decorated with flowers, and newly threshed 

 wheat in sacks made most comfortable seats, and 

 incidentally stopped all the draught to the feet, 

 and finally the piano was moved up from the house, 

 which completed the setting for a jolly evening. I 

 had nearly forgotten the most important feature of 

 all, and that is the provision of the meal. This 

 was done by a local caterer, and consisted of English 

 cold meat, sweets and cheese, but not the beer ; 

 this was ordered as a separate item, which ensured 

 equal distribution. 



The farmer, his family and guests and farm staff 

 dined together, and to complete a most enjoyable 

 evening, a pianist and songster was engaged to 

 entertain after the dinner. 



The host naturally led off with a necessary speech 

 of welcome and recounted the difficulties of the 

 farmer, and said that of course his only wish was 

 that the seasons would let him run to a harvest 

 home every year. 



The occasion was seized upon to bestow a word of 

 praise to the heads of departments, for in most cases 

 they were well deserved, and incidentally the oppor- 



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