23rd June 1943

Wednesday

Fine, some clouds, strong S.W. wind.  Heard a little firing early in the morning, but had a pretty good night.

Long ‘phone call this morning about harvest carts.  Writtle do not understand the position in the least, and cannot see any difference between carts and tractor trailers.  We have 1900 acres of corn to cut and cart, and now have 16 horses, 12 wagons or trolleys, 4 more being built, 10 Fordsons and 11 trailers.  Capt. Folkard reckons we want another 10 horses and wagons, and 6 more tractors and trailers.  We shan't get ‘em, but I suppose can make do with coal-carts again, as we did in 1941.

To Wigborough this afternoon, to see Nott and to check up the wagons, etc.  Country looked very well indeed. 

At Abbots Wick they were cutting hay with a pair of horses and carting with a tractor.  The War Agricultural Committee can always be relied to do a job cack-handed.  Seemed to be more hay about than I thought, and looks well.  Checked up at the Wick, and then to Abbots Hall, and drove along the track right down to Marsh Barn, remote and lonely on the edge of the desolate marsh.  Yet in olden times men had to come down here in all weathers to feed stock.

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