70 years ago, The Guardian of the Gulf newspaper published the following edition of Ellen\u2019s Diary. Note the references to mixed farming, a practice that began to dwindle in the following decades thanks in part to farm consolidation, expansion, and specialization. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWinter came back to Alderlea and the surrounding countryside over the week-end, hiding frostily Spring\u2019s lovely promise- the faint green of meadows and in the prevailing coldness, silencing bird-song. A bit desolate we found it, though recalling, even as the glass dropped to freezing, giving James some concern about our \u201cseeds\u201d, that each day in turn brings the seedtime nearer. By lantern-light, James comes in now from a last round at the barns to offer, \u201cThis is another cold one!\u201d to Mr. C. from the house on the hill commencing to make plans for the mill-sawing, \u201conce this cold snap is over.\u201d \u201cYou know,\u201d James hangs up jacket and cap to say, \u201cafter the mild weather we\u2019ve had it\u2019s pretty trying for the young stock to get used to this. You\u2019d be surprised how the difference in temperature affects them- especially the little pigs. They just won\u2019t settle down comfortably. We hope it soon turns warmer. What did the weatherman say of it, Ellen?\u201d But that is a difficult question to answer, since in the insistence of our duties this evening the radio has been forgotten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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James himself has been much too busy today to listen to forecasts, but has had to satisfy himself by taking stock of the rippling waves on the pond, no mean token of things to come. He has been the foreman of a small crew of helpers today, sometimes revealed to him only, we suspect, in the whisk of a skirt disappearing around a corner. It is better, if one has engaging interests of her own, or is inclined to indolence, not to show herself about the yard, when James single-handed runs the place. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
He would be sure to find a chore to fit her, perhaps to \u201cfetch over that pail\u201d or these days to \u201cdrive those confounded turkeys away from here- can\u2019t you see that they\u2019re keeping the cattle\u201d or it may be \u201cthe horses from drinking?\u201d At tubs in the barnyard the stock now drink, the water pumped to mirroring levels by the engine, which during the Winter had proved its worth to the farmers in pumping refreshment to various piggeries. In fair weather the horses and cattle drank down at the stream, a practice cut short of late, because neither one of their keepers could suffer \u201cthat field\u201d which lies between buildings and stream to be marred by the traffic of hooves.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
But grand-daughter continued to be his faithful and interested helper in her waking hours, and in the younger farmer\u2019s absence in the city, the two kept all in good order…\u201d<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ellen\u2019s Diary, May 2nd, 1949<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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