1 00:00:04,007 --> 00:00:05,759 The great British countryside. 2 00:00:08,127 --> 00:00:11,802 The setting for one of the most pivotaI battIes of the Second WorId War. 3 00:00:15,527 --> 00:00:18,246 ChurchiII caIIed it the ''frontIine of freedom''. 4 00:00:20,127 --> 00:00:23,039 It was a battIe fought by the farmers of Britain. 5 00:00:26,647 --> 00:00:28,638 RUTH: Timber! 6 00:00:31,687 --> 00:00:34,281 With the Nazis attacking British shipping, 7 00:00:34,327 --> 00:00:36,522 and attempting to cut off food imports, 8 00:00:36,847 --> 00:00:40,157 it feII to the farmers to save the country from starvation. 9 00:00:41,087 --> 00:00:44,875 They were tasked with doubIing the amount of food grown in Britain's fieIds. 10 00:00:46,447 --> 00:00:49,837 If they faiIed, the nation couId be starved into surrender. 11 00:00:53,887 --> 00:00:55,843 Now, historian Ruth Goodman... 12 00:00:57,047 --> 00:01:00,198 ..and archaeoIogists AIex LangIands and Peter Ginn 13 00:01:00,647 --> 00:01:02,638 are turning back the cIock, 14 00:01:04,127 --> 00:01:06,038 working Manor Farm in Hampshire 15 00:01:06,087 --> 00:01:08,555 as it wouId have been in the Second WorId War. 16 00:01:10,687 --> 00:01:14,362 Not a glamorous business, this reserved occupation ot tarming. 17 00:01:14,607 --> 00:01:15,483 Whoo! 18 00:01:17,327 --> 00:01:21,240 Coming up, the team face the conditions of 1 94 1, 19 00:01:21,487 --> 00:01:25,275 when continentaI Europe had been virtuaIIy enguIfed by the Nazis. 20 00:01:26,247 --> 00:01:31,162 Britain stood isoIated against Germany, with no prospect of victory in sight. 21 00:01:33,327 --> 00:01:36,558 The demands on the nation's farmers had never been so urgent. 22 00:01:38,007 --> 00:01:42,444 lt something goes wrong with this machine, you can do more damage than by hand-milking. 23 00:01:42,487 --> 00:01:46,366 The third year of the war saw Government intervention stepped up. 24 00:01:46,407 --> 00:01:49,365 And farmers feIt the burden of constant surveiIIance. 25 00:01:49,687 --> 00:01:52,201 Kind ot like the iron tist in the velvet glove. 26 00:01:53,687 --> 00:01:59,683 From here on in, there's no toIerance for faiIure on the Wartime Farm. 27 00:02:02,167 --> 00:02:04,158 (Air-raid siren) 28 00:02:14,687 --> 00:02:16,598 Ruth's foraging for wood. 29 00:02:18,287 --> 00:02:22,758 With fueI in short suppIy, this was a cruciaI job in the earIy months of the year. 30 00:02:24,167 --> 00:02:31,243 Actually, tinding woodland out like this during the war, tull ot dead wood, 31 00:02:31,287 --> 00:02:33,278 would be rather a windtall. 32 00:02:33,807 --> 00:02:37,482 Nowadays nobody touches all this tallen stick. They haven't got any use tor it. 33 00:02:37,527 --> 00:02:42,521 But during the war, everybody was desperately trying to heat their homes any way they could. 34 00:02:42,567 --> 00:02:46,640 With coal rationed and all other tuels under ration as well, 35 00:02:46,687 --> 00:02:50,600 any extra little bit ot stick you could gather made a huge difference. 36 00:02:53,407 --> 00:02:57,923 Even when they're tinished burning, they're still a really usetul resource. 37 00:02:57,967 --> 00:03:03,644 The ash that's left after it's burnt contains a really large concentration ot potassium, 38 00:03:03,687 --> 00:03:05,757 which makes a tantastic tertiliser. 39 00:03:06,087 --> 00:03:08,442 So as soon as l've tinished burning the wood, 40 00:03:08,487 --> 00:03:12,605 l shall be collecting all the ash trom underneath the pot and spreading it on the garden. 41 00:03:12,647 --> 00:03:13,875 Fantastic. 42 00:03:13,927 --> 00:03:15,918 Free tertiliser. 43 00:03:16,007 --> 00:03:17,520 Right, that's that bundled. 44 00:03:18,567 --> 00:03:20,558 There we go. 45 00:03:23,727 --> 00:03:25,718 What a beautitul day. 46 00:03:29,487 --> 00:03:34,322 For wartime farmers, day-to-day Iife wasn't just about their own survivaI. 47 00:03:34,687 --> 00:03:38,521 The nation's abiIity to feed itseIf rested on their shouIders. 48 00:03:38,767 --> 00:03:44,046 And in 1 94 1, the pressure of officiaIdom was suddenIy increased. 49 00:03:45,527 --> 00:03:50,043 Just before the outbreak of war, the Government had passed an emergency Iaw 50 00:03:50,087 --> 00:03:52,521 taking controI of every aspect of farming. 51 00:03:54,047 --> 00:03:58,962 To administer it, every county had a War AgricuIturaI Executive Committee. 52 00:03:59,127 --> 00:04:02,836 Known as the War Ag, they wouId dictate the way the Iand was farmed. 53 00:04:05,007 --> 00:04:09,922 Now, with Britain isoIated and the nation's food suppIy in more periI than ever, 54 00:04:09,967 --> 00:04:11,958 the gIoves came off. 55 00:04:14,007 --> 00:04:15,725 Look lively, Ruth. 56 00:04:15,767 --> 00:04:19,476 Historian Brian Short has studied the War Ags 57 00:04:19,527 --> 00:04:21,518 and the powers they had. 58 00:04:23,727 --> 00:04:25,957 - The man trom the ministry's here. - Hi. 59 00:04:26,007 --> 00:04:26,837 Hello. 60 00:04:26,887 --> 00:04:28,878 Good to see you. 61 00:04:29,167 --> 00:04:30,839 - Hello. - Good to see you. 62 00:04:30,887 --> 00:04:32,445 Hello. 63 00:04:32,487 --> 00:04:35,479 - Have you come to keep an eye on us? - l have. 64 00:04:35,527 --> 00:04:37,119 In the battIe to feed Britain, 65 00:04:37,167 --> 00:04:40,876 it was cruciaI to know exactIy how much food was being produced. 66 00:04:41,007 --> 00:04:45,683 So in 1 94 1, the Government Iaunched the NationaI Farm Survey, 67 00:04:45,927 --> 00:04:49,442 the most thorough survey of British farming ever undertaken. 68 00:04:49,967 --> 00:04:51,958 And it had a sting in the taiI. 69 00:04:52,167 --> 00:04:57,924 One ot the contentious questions ot all was, how good was your tarming? OK? 70 00:04:59,327 --> 00:05:04,003 And this graded you as an A, B or C tarmer. 71 00:05:04,527 --> 00:05:06,882 And it you're grade C, watch out. 72 00:05:09,647 --> 00:05:13,037 C-rated farmers couId face the uItimate sanction 73 00:05:13,087 --> 00:05:14,520 by order of the War Ag. 74 00:05:14,567 --> 00:05:17,798 They might well come in, take over part ot the tarm. 75 00:05:17,847 --> 00:05:21,965 - Without agreement? They could torce it? - Oh, absolutely. No agreement necessary. 76 00:05:22,007 --> 00:05:26,159 Or they could actually ask the tarmer to leave his tarm altogether. 77 00:05:27,127 --> 00:05:29,516 They could take over the tarmhouse as well. 78 00:05:29,967 --> 00:05:32,959 And the tarmer just didn't have a leg to stand on. 79 00:05:33,007 --> 00:05:37,205 l mean, he was there tor the purposes ot winning the war. 80 00:05:37,487 --> 00:05:42,561 Something like 2,700 farrmers are going to be turned off their tarms during this war. 81 00:05:44,047 --> 00:05:47,357 And something like 1 0,000 tarms 82 00:05:47,407 --> 00:05:52,845 are going to be affected by bits ot their tarms being taken over by the War Ags. 83 00:05:55,327 --> 00:06:00,117 To avoid this fate, it was cruciaI for farmers to impress the War Ag inspector. 84 00:06:00,367 --> 00:06:03,962 We have a tield ploughed and we're just desperate to put another crop in. 85 00:06:04,007 --> 00:06:05,725 - ls there anything you'd suggest? - Yes. 86 00:06:05,767 --> 00:06:12,684 Well, one ot the things that l think would be really good that is needed a great deal is tlax 87 00:06:12,727 --> 00:06:14,285 during this war. 88 00:06:14,327 --> 00:06:17,603 - So that's tor textile production. - lt's tor textiles, yes. 89 00:06:19,407 --> 00:06:25,642 FIex was grown for its fibres, which were used to make fabric, such as parachute webbing. 90 00:06:25,927 --> 00:06:29,363 But Britain's farmers had IittIe experience of growing it. 91 00:06:29,407 --> 00:06:33,605 Before the war, fIax had been imported, often from Russia. 92 00:06:33,887 --> 00:06:38,915 With these suppIies cut off, British farmers were expected to make up the shortfaII. 93 00:06:40,567 --> 00:06:44,162 You'd be doing the nation a real tavour by putting tlax in this area. 94 00:06:44,207 --> 00:06:49,645 So it we were to grow tlax, we might get a little bit closer to that precious A grade. 95 00:06:49,687 --> 00:06:52,599 Yes, you would please the ministry. 96 00:06:53,287 --> 00:06:55,084 We should show you the rest ot the tarm. 97 00:06:55,127 --> 00:06:56,845 That would be a very good idea indeed. 98 00:06:56,887 --> 00:06:58,957 Well, it's just down ''a'' lane. 99 00:06:59,007 --> 00:07:00,998 We'll give you ''a'' cup ot tea. 100 00:07:01,047 --> 00:07:03,038 No, no tea, please. 101 00:07:03,327 --> 00:07:05,045 l'm above corruption. 102 00:07:05,087 --> 00:07:07,078 - OK. - Henry, come on. 103 00:07:09,487 --> 00:07:14,436 When it came to the farmyard, the War Ag's No. 1 priority was miIk production. 104 00:07:17,207 --> 00:07:19,004 For a popuIation fed on rations, 105 00:07:19,047 --> 00:07:24,758 miIk was a vitaI source of fat, protein, caIcium and vitamin C. 106 00:07:25,407 --> 00:07:28,479 It was known as nature's most compIete food. 107 00:07:28,767 --> 00:07:32,680 Manor Farm's dairy herd are expecting caIves in a few weeks. 108 00:07:32,727 --> 00:07:35,924 Once they're born, the cows wiII start producing miIk. 109 00:07:36,327 --> 00:07:37,521 Come and have a look. 110 00:07:37,567 --> 00:07:39,558 - After you. - Thank you. 111 00:07:41,447 --> 00:07:43,517 So it's only a small milking parlour. 112 00:07:43,887 --> 00:07:45,878 But we have got a milking machine. 113 00:07:46,687 --> 00:07:47,961 Very good. 114 00:07:48,007 --> 00:07:50,965 So with our cows about to calve, 115 00:07:51,007 --> 00:07:55,159 you'd be looking tor us to get the maximum amount ot milk out ot their mothers. 116 00:07:55,207 --> 00:07:57,357 Yes, absolutely. lt's very, very important. 117 00:07:57,887 --> 00:08:01,516 The War Ags like to portray themselves as the tarmer's triend, 118 00:08:01,567 --> 00:08:05,082 but it's kind ot like the iron tist in the velvet glove. 119 00:08:05,847 --> 00:08:07,280 (Others laugh) 120 00:08:07,327 --> 00:08:09,602 lt might be a nice suit but he's a hard man. 121 00:08:10,847 --> 00:08:12,838 Right, we'd better crack on, then. 122 00:08:15,127 --> 00:08:20,520 Brian will return in a tew weeks to allocate the team an A, B or C grade. 123 00:08:22,527 --> 00:08:27,555 Before then, they must get the miIking parIour up and running, and sow the fIax. 124 00:08:29,207 --> 00:08:33,485 AIex wants to harness up-to-date technoIogy to get the crop into the fieId. 125 00:08:35,367 --> 00:08:40,600 So far the team have been using a Fordson, the most popuIar tractor of the war. 126 00:08:42,007 --> 00:08:45,158 But Fordsons are notoriousIy hard to start. 127 00:08:47,887 --> 00:08:51,004 There were other machines being deveIoped in the '40s. 128 00:08:54,647 --> 00:08:58,401 AIex has come to meet RoIIy PhiIIips, an expert in earIy tractors, 129 00:08:58,447 --> 00:09:00,517 who's got hoId of an aIternative. 130 00:09:00,567 --> 00:09:02,000 - morning, Alex. - How are you? 131 00:09:02,047 --> 00:09:03,400 How are you today? OK? 132 00:09:03,447 --> 00:09:07,156 Yes, very well. And looking torward to seeing what the Field-marshall can do. 133 00:09:07,447 --> 00:09:12,475 Yes. Far easier to start the Field-marshall than the Fordson that you love so much. 134 00:09:12,527 --> 00:09:14,279 But your shoulder doesn't. 135 00:09:15,447 --> 00:09:20,601 The FieId-MarshaII was more economicaI to run and more powerfuI than some earIier tractors. 136 00:09:21,887 --> 00:09:25,084 But best of aII, there was a short cut to starting it. 137 00:09:25,127 --> 00:09:28,961 The other way they used to start the marshalls was a shot-gun cartridge. 138 00:09:29,007 --> 00:09:31,646 Right, OK. Show me, then. Show me how this works. 139 00:09:31,687 --> 00:09:33,439 So l can get rid ot this handle, then. 140 00:09:33,487 --> 00:09:37,924 - Put the handle back where you got it trom. - l could actually throw this in the river. 141 00:09:37,967 --> 00:09:40,606 l wouldn't be too happy. it you do throw it in the river. 142 00:09:42,327 --> 00:09:44,318 There's no shot in the cartridge 143 00:09:44,367 --> 00:09:47,916 but there is bIack powder to cause an expIosion that wiII start the engine. 144 00:09:49,327 --> 00:09:50,999 - Ah, l see. - And tap it off. 145 00:09:51,047 --> 00:09:53,402 - There's your tiring pin, there. - There. 146 00:09:53,447 --> 00:09:55,756 - But we're not going to use that yet. - OK. 147 00:09:56,567 --> 00:09:58,558 And here we need to put a wick. 148 00:09:58,887 --> 00:10:01,355 So the wick is very similar to blotting paper. 149 00:10:01,407 --> 00:10:03,238 You need to roll it up... 150 00:10:03,727 --> 00:10:07,037 Because blotting paper doesn't burn very rapidly, it just smoulders. 151 00:10:07,087 --> 00:10:10,716 Right, OK. So this is effectively providing the ignition tor the tuel. 152 00:10:10,767 --> 00:10:13,281 - Yeah. - Whilst this is providing the momentum. 153 00:10:13,327 --> 00:10:15,318 The push ot the actual piston down. 154 00:10:18,887 --> 00:10:21,196 As you can see, it's not burning very tast. 155 00:10:21,727 --> 00:10:23,843 So that goes into the hole at the tront. 156 00:10:26,047 --> 00:10:30,245 And now all you've got to do now is with the hammer hit the tiring pin. 157 00:10:30,287 --> 00:10:31,117 OK. 158 00:10:31,167 --> 00:10:33,158 - All down to you. - All down to me. 159 00:10:34,287 --> 00:10:36,357 So this is...basically this is my ignition key. 160 00:10:36,407 --> 00:10:38,523 - Correct, yes. - OK. Here we go, then. 161 00:10:44,447 --> 00:10:46,756 Have you got another cartridge we can use? 162 00:10:47,007 --> 00:10:48,998 (Both laugh) 163 00:10:49,327 --> 00:10:51,443 You said this starts tirst time. 164 00:10:52,047 --> 00:10:54,038 - lt does, but this time it doesn't. - OK. 165 00:10:56,727 --> 00:10:58,479 Right, OK. Here we go. 166 00:10:59,287 --> 00:11:01,278 (Engine starts) 167 00:11:02,047 --> 00:11:03,685 - Easy. - marvellous. 168 00:11:03,727 --> 00:11:06,082 That's brilliant. lt's going to save me my shoulder. 169 00:11:06,127 --> 00:11:07,640 lt detinitely will. 170 00:11:07,687 --> 00:11:10,599 - Well, let's take it tor a spin. - Let's go tor a spin. 171 00:11:14,087 --> 00:11:18,319 The new tractor shouId make sowing the fIax much more straightforward. 172 00:11:20,767 --> 00:11:26,125 But meeting the War Ag's other requirement, miIk production, is proving more of a chaIIenge. 173 00:11:27,207 --> 00:11:28,435 So this is Sarah, is it? 174 00:11:28,487 --> 00:11:31,604 Yeah, this is the one who's been giving us the problems. 175 00:11:32,647 --> 00:11:36,765 Peter and stockwoman Debbie Underwood are keeping a close eye on the cows. 176 00:11:36,927 --> 00:11:40,442 lt you look at the end ot that teat, can you see she's missing the bottom halt ot it? 177 00:11:40,487 --> 00:11:42,205 - Yeah. - What we think has happened 178 00:11:42,247 --> 00:11:44,522 is one ot the other cows have trodden on the teat 179 00:11:44,567 --> 00:11:48,162 and have literally just cut through the end ot it, which is extremely paintul. 180 00:11:48,207 --> 00:11:50,277 You can see, it's not very nice at all. 181 00:11:50,567 --> 00:11:52,717 We've got a problem with the other teat as well. 182 00:11:52,767 --> 00:11:54,723 - lt's black. - The tip ot it has gone black. 183 00:11:54,767 --> 00:11:56,120 So she's got an intection. 184 00:11:57,647 --> 00:12:02,402 Despite the best modern medicaI care, Sarah's injury wiII not heaI. 185 00:12:02,447 --> 00:12:06,565 The onIy option is to keep her comfortabIe and wait for her caIf to be born. 186 00:12:07,847 --> 00:12:11,840 Obviously, she's going to have to be culled because we can't use her tor milking any more. 187 00:12:11,887 --> 00:12:14,560 - Yeah. But l suppose it's a tact ot lite. - lt is. 188 00:12:14,767 --> 00:12:16,917 lt you've got livestock, you've got dead stock. 189 00:12:16,967 --> 00:12:20,721 - lt's a very true saying, that one. Very true. - Yeah. 190 00:12:21,047 --> 00:12:23,880 - But a nice big baby in there somewhere. - mm. 191 00:12:24,927 --> 00:12:27,043 With the nation in desperate need of miIk, 192 00:12:27,087 --> 00:12:31,763 Iosing a good dairy cow wouId have been a disaster for any wartime farmer. 193 00:12:33,487 --> 00:12:35,205 The team's remaining cows 194 00:12:35,247 --> 00:12:39,126 wiII now have to provide enough miIk to meet the War Ag's expectations. 195 00:12:40,087 --> 00:12:42,078 Come on. Come here. Come on. 196 00:12:42,127 --> 00:12:47,884 But their IeveI of production wiII be dependent on the quaIity and quantity of food they eat. 197 00:12:50,287 --> 00:12:53,677 This should be interesting, Peter. l'm looking torward... 198 00:12:53,727 --> 00:12:55,399 to seeing what's happened here. 199 00:12:55,447 --> 00:12:57,915 Well, it is a complete experiment, isn't it? 200 00:12:58,047 --> 00:13:01,357 Feed for dairy cows was in very short suppIy. 201 00:13:02,167 --> 00:13:05,842 Before the war, they ate imported feed and aIso grazed on fieIds. 202 00:13:07,087 --> 00:13:12,036 But with imports cut off and fieIds pIoughed up to grow crops for humans, 203 00:13:12,087 --> 00:13:14,043 farmers had to find aIternatives. 204 00:13:15,167 --> 00:13:17,442 The Government urged them to make siIage. 205 00:13:17,967 --> 00:13:20,765 And a few months ago, AIex and Peter did just that. 206 00:13:22,047 --> 00:13:25,119 The moment's come to see if their efforts have paid off. 207 00:13:25,167 --> 00:13:28,159 Peter and l are both very, very nervous about this 208 00:13:28,207 --> 00:13:30,437 because we've never made silage betore. 209 00:13:30,487 --> 00:13:32,876 And in tact, actually, during the war, 210 00:13:32,927 --> 00:13:36,636 many farrmers had never even entertained the idea ot making silage. 211 00:13:37,847 --> 00:13:42,363 SiIage is a method of preserving green crops at their most nutritious, 212 00:13:42,407 --> 00:13:44,363 a bit Iike pickIing. 213 00:13:44,407 --> 00:13:48,480 It's usuaIIy made with grass but wartime farmers had to be imaginative. 214 00:13:49,887 --> 00:13:53,197 lt's very interesting because this isn't your traditional silage. 215 00:13:53,247 --> 00:13:55,477 - This isn't just straight grass, is it? - No, no. 216 00:13:55,527 --> 00:14:00,396 This is a real cocktail ot nettles, grasses. 217 00:14:00,447 --> 00:14:03,245 ln a wartime situation, it this hadn't have worked, 218 00:14:03,287 --> 00:14:06,518 and we'd have put all ot our eggs in one basket, so to speak, 219 00:14:06,567 --> 00:14:12,597 it could spell disaster tor a tarm that's trying to rear a dairy herd, bring a dairy herd on. 220 00:14:13,927 --> 00:14:19,160 The boys made the container, or silo, trom scraps ot metal tound on the tarm. 221 00:14:20,087 --> 00:14:24,399 - Alex, someone, during construction... - Yep. 222 00:14:24,487 --> 00:14:26,637 - ..and it may well have been me... - Yeah. 223 00:14:26,687 --> 00:14:30,726 - ..has actually put that nut tacing in. - Oh, no. 224 00:14:32,127 --> 00:14:36,040 We've managed to have locked ourselves out ot our own silo here. Look. 225 00:14:36,887 --> 00:14:39,162 Hopetully the silage will hold... 226 00:14:39,207 --> 00:14:43,405 lt the silage can just hold the nut tight enough on the other side... 227 00:14:44,327 --> 00:14:47,000 This doesn't bode well, Peter, really, does it? 228 00:14:47,047 --> 00:14:49,880 - Ooh, it's coming. - Oh, it is. 229 00:14:49,927 --> 00:14:52,122 Brilliant. Well done, Peter. 230 00:14:52,167 --> 00:14:53,486 Right. 231 00:14:53,527 --> 00:14:54,846 OK. 232 00:14:54,887 --> 00:14:59,199 There was pIenty of information to heIp farmers spot siIage probIems earIy. 233 00:14:59,327 --> 00:15:02,125 Look, see, this is the test here, Peter. 234 00:15:02,167 --> 00:15:04,965 lt's called ''Silage, How to make and Feed it''. OK? 235 00:15:05,327 --> 00:15:08,717 On the back ot this we've got a tault correction table. 236 00:15:08,767 --> 00:15:10,837 And l'm not saying we've got a tault yet. 237 00:15:10,887 --> 00:15:14,926 But it says here ''Evil-smelling silage throughout.'' 238 00:15:14,967 --> 00:15:17,037 Now, do you know what an evil smell is? 239 00:15:18,487 --> 00:15:21,001 l'm all too tamiliar with an evil smell, Alex. 240 00:15:21,407 --> 00:15:23,796 Give it a sniff. Tell me it you think it's evil. 241 00:15:25,047 --> 00:15:27,925 l would not say that was evil. 242 00:15:28,687 --> 00:15:30,678 l would say that smells ot grass. 243 00:15:31,407 --> 00:15:32,601 l think it's good. 244 00:15:32,647 --> 00:15:35,844 We'll see. l mean, it the cows tuck into it with great relish, 245 00:15:35,887 --> 00:15:38,560 then we'll know actually it's not done so badly. 246 00:15:48,607 --> 00:15:50,757 - You've got the tools? - l've got the tools. 247 00:15:50,807 --> 00:15:52,798 You've got the barrow? 248 00:15:55,007 --> 00:15:56,201 Grub's up, girls. 249 00:15:56,247 --> 00:15:57,282 Oh, what is this? 250 00:15:57,327 --> 00:15:59,204 What is that? Go on, have a... 251 00:15:59,247 --> 00:16:01,397 Experimental silage. 252 00:16:01,447 --> 00:16:03,438 - She's interested. - She is. 253 00:16:05,207 --> 00:16:08,483 - This bodes well. Right, let's get it in the trough. - Ooh. 254 00:16:09,127 --> 00:16:11,118 There we go. Look at that, Peter. 255 00:16:11,607 --> 00:16:12,642 Look at that. 256 00:16:12,687 --> 00:16:14,279 Wonder silage. 257 00:16:14,327 --> 00:16:16,079 There it goes. 258 00:16:16,127 --> 00:16:17,560 You can't have it all, you two. 259 00:16:17,607 --> 00:16:19,598 There's more than two cows here. 260 00:16:21,007 --> 00:16:22,759 There's plenty to go around. 261 00:16:22,807 --> 00:16:24,877 That's it, Peter. You get it in there. 262 00:16:25,967 --> 00:16:28,640 That's a no-nonsense bit ot troughing, that, isn't it? 263 00:16:28,687 --> 00:16:29,756 Look at that. 264 00:16:29,807 --> 00:16:31,798 Save some room tor later, darling. 265 00:16:34,247 --> 00:16:38,206 l think we could very proudly go back to the War Ag 266 00:16:38,247 --> 00:16:40,158 and say, you know, we did our job. 267 00:16:40,207 --> 00:16:41,686 We tried silage. 268 00:16:41,727 --> 00:16:45,436 - And we've made it work. - Yeah. 269 00:16:45,487 --> 00:16:47,478 Go spread the word. 270 00:16:47,727 --> 00:16:48,523 Brilliant. 271 00:16:57,087 --> 00:16:59,282 Farmers hoping to impress the War Ag 272 00:16:59,327 --> 00:17:02,444 made sure they kept up with the Iatest Government advice. 273 00:17:04,607 --> 00:17:07,724 A popuIar way of doing so was to watch Government fiIms. 274 00:17:09,047 --> 00:17:11,515 l think, dig in, yeah. Grab some sandwiches. 275 00:17:11,967 --> 00:17:15,084 And one such production is showing at the viIIage haII. 276 00:17:16,047 --> 00:17:18,641 MobiIe cinemas were sent up and down the country 277 00:17:18,687 --> 00:17:22,475 screening fiIms that showcased how farming was heIping the fight. 278 00:17:26,367 --> 00:17:29,757 Spring Offensive was made in 1 940 279 00:17:29,807 --> 00:17:31,286 by the Ministry of Information. 280 00:17:31,567 --> 00:17:34,035 FlLm'S NARRATOR: The English countryside. 281 00:17:35,487 --> 00:17:38,797 lts most important crop, English countrymen. 282 00:17:39,967 --> 00:17:42,276 Now, what will war mean to the countryman? 283 00:17:43,927 --> 00:17:45,918 What will war mean tor the land? 284 00:17:49,767 --> 00:17:53,840 Historian John Martin speciaIises in farming on the home front. 285 00:17:54,767 --> 00:17:58,840 The ministry ot lntormation was set up right at the beginning ot the war 286 00:17:58,887 --> 00:18:00,445 to intorm people? 287 00:18:00,487 --> 00:18:05,402 To instruct people, to stress the success ot the wartime tood production campaign 288 00:18:05,447 --> 00:18:08,166 and also, really, to raise people's morale. 289 00:18:08,207 --> 00:18:10,277 FlLm'S NARRATOR: He not only tarms well. 290 00:18:10,327 --> 00:18:12,443 He pulls his weight in all sorts ot ways. 291 00:18:12,687 --> 00:18:14,484 Well, mother, here's the new visitor. 292 00:18:14,527 --> 00:18:18,600 The main character in Spring Offensive is a member of the War Ag. 293 00:18:19,007 --> 00:18:20,645 Well done. What can you give me? 294 00:18:20,687 --> 00:18:22,325 Say, 20 acres. 295 00:18:22,367 --> 00:18:26,724 Yes, 20. And tive or six in another tield which l might be able to break up later on. 296 00:18:26,767 --> 00:18:28,758 That's an easy start. 297 00:18:29,087 --> 00:18:31,078 lt gives them a human tace. 298 00:18:31,647 --> 00:18:34,207 You'll get the Government grant. 64 pounds. 299 00:18:34,247 --> 00:18:38,798 l'll give you 64 quid to mind your own business and clear off. 300 00:18:41,727 --> 00:18:45,515 The pIot stressed the importance of cooperating with the War Ag... 301 00:18:46,567 --> 00:18:48,797 ..and the consequences of defying them. 302 00:18:48,847 --> 00:18:52,396 But there's one that beats me. That's hopeless. 303 00:18:52,447 --> 00:18:54,438 And that is Grove Farm. 304 00:18:56,647 --> 00:18:59,207 (Slow, moody music) 305 00:19:03,047 --> 00:19:04,400 Good use ot music. 306 00:19:04,447 --> 00:19:05,766 mm. 307 00:19:05,807 --> 00:19:07,081 Ominous. 308 00:19:07,127 --> 00:19:09,118 The only way is to take the tarm over. 309 00:19:12,447 --> 00:19:14,563 More than 2,000 fiIms were produced 310 00:19:14,607 --> 00:19:18,316 under the guidance of the Ministry of Information during the war. 311 00:19:21,367 --> 00:19:23,278 There we have it. Harvest in. 312 00:19:23,327 --> 00:19:26,046 lt's telling us that they turned that tarm around. 313 00:19:28,607 --> 00:19:32,759 The crucial element in a tilm like this is actually it's all about the mindset 314 00:19:32,807 --> 00:19:36,561 and keeping everyone positive and keeping everyone moving in the same direction. 315 00:19:36,607 --> 00:19:39,075 And in that sense it achieved the objective, 316 00:19:39,967 --> 00:19:43,039 ensuring that everyone's committed to the war effort. 317 00:19:43,087 --> 00:19:45,965 lt's certainly done that tor me. lt's certainly raised my morale. 318 00:19:46,007 --> 00:19:47,565 But at the same time it's stressed to me 319 00:19:47,607 --> 00:19:51,316 that l've got to get out there and get the kind ot yields that these people are. 320 00:19:51,367 --> 00:19:55,804 FlLm'S NARRATOR: ln September 1 939, you asked the countryside 321 00:19:55,847 --> 00:20:01,399 to provide you with a sate retuge tor your children and security against tamine. 322 00:20:02,367 --> 00:20:05,086 And both these things it has given you. 323 00:20:06,287 --> 00:20:09,996 Now the countryside asks you to do something in return. 324 00:20:11,567 --> 00:20:16,163 When peace comes, don't torget the land and its people again. 325 00:20:28,007 --> 00:20:30,999 Well, hopetully we won't get a bad grade tor our tarm. 326 00:20:31,807 --> 00:20:34,719 Yeah, well, we've seen how it's supposed to be done. 327 00:20:52,807 --> 00:20:57,085 Back on the farm, the team must get ready for the upcoming War Ag inspection. 328 00:20:59,567 --> 00:21:03,003 They have the FieId-MarshaII tractor Iined up for sowing the fIax. 329 00:21:05,887 --> 00:21:09,084 And for miIking, they'II aIso be using a new piece of kit. 330 00:21:14,727 --> 00:21:16,558 - Here we go, Peter. - OK. 331 00:21:16,607 --> 00:21:22,045 - This is what runs the milking machine, is it? - Yes, it is, Peter. lt's another engine. 332 00:21:22,087 --> 00:21:24,317 - l can see a crank handle. - Yep. 333 00:21:24,367 --> 00:21:26,358 And it's got your name on it, Peter. 334 00:21:36,767 --> 00:21:38,962 lt's a tairly simple piece ot kit, this. 335 00:21:39,047 --> 00:21:43,325 What we do is we create a vacuum that runs up through a rubber pump pipe up the back 336 00:21:43,367 --> 00:21:46,484 and then goes in to the milking parlour here. 337 00:21:46,527 --> 00:21:48,518 OK? And then across the top. 338 00:21:49,287 --> 00:21:54,839 And off ot that pipe you can then tap in however many milking machines you may need. 339 00:21:56,007 --> 00:22:00,285 The demands of wartime production increased the use of miIking machines. 340 00:22:01,207 --> 00:22:05,200 Before the confIict, onIy one in five farmers were using them. 341 00:22:05,247 --> 00:22:10,116 But the wartime shortage of manpower meant Iabour-saving devices were essentiaI. 342 00:22:10,167 --> 00:22:15,321 And by 1 945 over haIf of Britain's cows were being miIked by machine. 343 00:22:19,887 --> 00:22:22,640 The farm's cows stiII haven't caIved, 344 00:22:23,087 --> 00:22:25,078 so the machine can't be used yet. 345 00:22:25,887 --> 00:22:28,720 But there's some sad news about Sarah, 346 00:22:28,767 --> 00:22:30,758 the cow who was iII. 347 00:22:32,367 --> 00:22:36,565 We always knew that Sarah was going to have to be put down 348 00:22:36,607 --> 00:22:39,041 but you were hoping to get a calt trom her, weren't you? 349 00:22:39,087 --> 00:22:44,002 Yes, that's right. Even though we knew her injury was what you would call terminal, 350 00:22:44,047 --> 00:22:47,722 what we were hoping tor was that at least we could rescue the calt. 351 00:22:47,967 --> 00:22:52,324 Tragically, we came in one morning and tound that the calt had been stillborn, 352 00:22:52,367 --> 00:22:54,676 which is, you know...which is very sad. 353 00:22:54,727 --> 00:22:56,718 She was a very good milker, wasn't she? 354 00:22:56,767 --> 00:23:00,840 Well, last year she was averaging about 50 pints ot milk a day. 355 00:23:00,887 --> 00:23:02,843 - Wow. - And she was only a little girl. 356 00:23:02,887 --> 00:23:05,242 So that was a lot ot milk tor her. That really was. 357 00:23:05,287 --> 00:23:08,882 But there still is a herd. We still have cows on the tarm. 358 00:23:08,927 --> 00:23:11,964 Yeah, our other cows are looking really good. 359 00:23:12,007 --> 00:23:17,479 So hopetully within a very short time we should have at least a tew calves on the ground 360 00:23:17,527 --> 00:23:19,643 and we'll be able to start milking again. 361 00:23:21,007 --> 00:23:26,365 The War Ag wouId Iook unfavourabIy on any farmer who Iost their Iivestock Iike this. 362 00:23:28,367 --> 00:23:31,882 And farmers who consistentIy faiIed to meet Government expectations 363 00:23:31,927 --> 00:23:33,599 couId face the uItimate penaIty. 364 00:23:35,367 --> 00:23:37,562 As IocaI farmer John Curtis witnessed. 365 00:23:41,207 --> 00:23:45,962 John, l've been reading some ot the newspapers here trom the 1 940s 366 00:23:46,007 --> 00:23:53,402 and there's a case ot a tarmer here in Hampshire shot in an 1 8-hour tarm siege. 367 00:23:53,447 --> 00:23:56,803 Yes. He was our neighbour during the war. 368 00:23:56,847 --> 00:23:59,236 A chap called George Ray Walden. 369 00:23:59,287 --> 00:24:00,925 Yes, commonly known as Ray. 370 00:24:00,967 --> 00:24:02,878 - And did you know him personally? - Yes, 371 00:24:02,927 --> 00:24:05,043 although l was quite young at the time. 372 00:24:05,847 --> 00:24:08,839 - my tather used to do his harvesting tor him. - Right. 373 00:24:08,927 --> 00:24:11,157 - l was a little bit atraid ot Ray. - Yeah. 374 00:24:11,207 --> 00:24:13,516 Because he was very tormidable, really. 375 00:24:13,847 --> 00:24:17,362 As l understand it trom these articles, what happened is 376 00:24:17,407 --> 00:24:21,480 Ray Walden was required to plough up roughly halt ot his tarm. 377 00:24:21,527 --> 00:24:22,960 That is correct. 378 00:24:23,007 --> 00:24:25,396 As part ot the war effort to grow more wheat. 379 00:24:25,847 --> 00:24:27,439 But he retused to do so. 380 00:24:27,487 --> 00:24:29,682 Some ot the land he couldn't have ploughed up anyway 381 00:24:29,727 --> 00:24:32,366 - because it was too wet and damp. - Right. 382 00:24:32,407 --> 00:24:34,682 But they still said he had to plough it up. 383 00:24:34,727 --> 00:24:36,797 But then that was the War Ag at the time. 384 00:24:37,647 --> 00:24:39,558 The War Ag tried to evict Ray WaIden 385 00:24:39,607 --> 00:24:43,361 but he hoIed himseIf up in his farmhouse with a shotgun and fired at poIice, 386 00:24:43,407 --> 00:24:44,635 wounding two. 387 00:24:45,087 --> 00:24:46,918 Things spiralled out ot control 388 00:24:46,967 --> 00:24:51,245 and it ended up with an 1 8-hour siege ot his house. 389 00:24:51,287 --> 00:24:53,721 And he ended up getting shot by a police officer. 390 00:24:53,767 --> 00:24:57,726 Yes. And then ot course eventually he was taken to hospital. 391 00:24:58,567 --> 00:25:01,035 And it was there that he died. 392 00:25:01,087 --> 00:25:05,797 And this must have then sent shock waves through the tarming community. 393 00:25:05,847 --> 00:25:08,281 Oh, it did. lt was in all the press, you know. 394 00:25:08,327 --> 00:25:11,603 And the farrmers' union papers, in the magazines that came out. 395 00:25:11,647 --> 00:25:13,638 The story was there. 396 00:25:14,407 --> 00:25:16,477 mostly they were condemning it. 397 00:25:16,527 --> 00:25:18,643 Because it shouldn't ever have happened. 398 00:25:18,687 --> 00:25:22,043 - You think it shouldn't have happened. - l don't think it should at all. 399 00:25:22,087 --> 00:25:26,603 l mean, when l read this story, it does till me with sadness. 400 00:25:26,647 --> 00:25:31,118 But at the same time there's part ot me that thinks, there was a kind ot greater good here. 401 00:25:31,167 --> 00:25:36,241 Really, it we were going to avoid starvation on these islands, 402 00:25:36,287 --> 00:25:39,404 we had to do this. We had to sort ot plough up... 403 00:25:39,447 --> 00:25:42,245 Well, yes, but it still needn't have gone that tar. 404 00:25:42,927 --> 00:25:44,246 Yeah. 405 00:25:46,567 --> 00:25:51,357 Really, it's been very interesting and it's made me think a lot more about the War Ag 406 00:25:51,407 --> 00:25:53,398 and what they were doing. 407 00:26:15,967 --> 00:26:19,243 Throughout 1 94 1, imports decIined, 408 00:26:19,327 --> 00:26:21,841 making everyday items increasingIy scarce. 409 00:26:23,767 --> 00:26:27,237 One shortage in particuIar caused probIems for housewives. 410 00:26:28,167 --> 00:26:29,236 Soap. 411 00:26:29,807 --> 00:26:35,086 Soap became scarce because pretty much the major ingredient ot soap is tat. 412 00:26:35,127 --> 00:26:37,721 Any sort ot tat but particularly the edible tats. 413 00:26:37,767 --> 00:26:42,397 And Britain, with all the business going on with U-boats out in the Atlantic, 414 00:26:42,447 --> 00:26:45,325 was really, really short ot edible tats. 415 00:26:45,767 --> 00:26:49,555 So any soap you could save meant there was more tat tor people to eat. 416 00:26:50,167 --> 00:26:55,321 The fat shortage became so severe that in 1 942 soap wouId be rationed. 417 00:26:55,367 --> 00:26:57,835 But even a year earIier it was hard to come by. 418 00:26:58,847 --> 00:27:02,078 There were some thrifty ways to make it go further. 419 00:27:02,127 --> 00:27:06,040 This is a tip l got trom a newspaper ot the 1 940s 420 00:27:06,087 --> 00:27:07,964 and basically you use a tlannel 421 00:27:08,007 --> 00:27:11,204 and then all the bits ot soap that are getting too small to be usetul, 422 00:27:11,247 --> 00:27:16,037 all the sort ot little chippy bits or the little tiny soft slivers left at the end ot a bar, 423 00:27:16,087 --> 00:27:18,078 you bung them all into your tlannel. 424 00:27:19,407 --> 00:27:21,398 And you just squeeze it up 425 00:27:21,847 --> 00:27:23,838 and pop it in some hot water. 426 00:27:24,287 --> 00:27:27,882 And basically the soap melts enough to all sort ot gel together 427 00:27:27,927 --> 00:27:32,284 and become a sort ot multi-coloured, made-out-ot-mini-bits solid bar. 428 00:27:33,607 --> 00:27:36,997 Even in that two seconds there, it l give it a good squeeze... 429 00:27:38,207 --> 00:27:40,198 ..you'll see it's retormed. 430 00:27:40,367 --> 00:27:42,358 There we are. Look. 431 00:27:42,847 --> 00:27:45,441 lt's all sort ot moulded into one lump. 432 00:27:45,487 --> 00:27:48,763 And that's so much easier to use than all the little bits and bobs. 433 00:27:51,487 --> 00:27:57,881 In the garden, those in the know couId find another way to deaI with the soap shortage. 434 00:28:00,287 --> 00:28:02,243 This is soapwort. 435 00:28:02,287 --> 00:28:06,121 You can sort ot see there's a nice pretty pink tlower on it. 436 00:28:06,287 --> 00:28:09,802 And just like the name implies, soapwort... it's usetul as soap. 437 00:28:09,847 --> 00:28:11,997 lt's a sort ot soap substitute, really. 438 00:28:12,047 --> 00:28:14,515 The strongest part, the saponin, is in the root 439 00:28:14,567 --> 00:28:17,286 but you can get it in the leat and the stem as well. 440 00:28:17,487 --> 00:28:22,607 Eking out your soap ration with soapwort, however, was probably not very mainstream. 441 00:28:22,647 --> 00:28:27,084 Really restricted to eccentrics like me who happen to know the older ways ot doing things. 442 00:28:28,647 --> 00:28:30,842 The next stage is processing the pIant. 443 00:28:35,087 --> 00:28:38,363 So l've washed and cut up all my soapwort. 444 00:28:38,887 --> 00:28:40,878 Nice hot water. 445 00:28:42,047 --> 00:28:44,038 Start bruising it. 446 00:28:44,647 --> 00:28:49,767 What l'm trying to do is release the juices in the soapwort. 447 00:28:49,807 --> 00:28:52,480 ln particular, the one called saponin. 448 00:28:52,527 --> 00:28:54,563 That's the thing that does the cleaning. 449 00:28:57,367 --> 00:28:59,039 Oh, yeah, look. 450 00:28:59,087 --> 00:29:02,238 lt's starting to go a little bit bubbly. 451 00:29:03,287 --> 00:29:07,963 lt's supposed to be one ot the gentlest ot all the cleaning agents. 452 00:29:08,007 --> 00:29:12,603 lndeed, conservators use it when they're dealing with really ancient textiles. 453 00:29:13,127 --> 00:29:18,155 Where soap would be too harsh, they use a solution ot soapwort or saponin 454 00:29:18,207 --> 00:29:20,767 to gently soften 455 00:29:20,807 --> 00:29:25,085 and lift dirt and grease out ot things like ancient tapestries and so torth. 456 00:29:25,567 --> 00:29:28,286 So it it's good enough tor that, it's good enough tor my hair. 457 00:29:31,967 --> 00:29:34,879 This is the greenest shampoo l think l've ever made. 458 00:29:35,767 --> 00:29:37,758 Right. 459 00:29:46,327 --> 00:29:48,318 lt smells very sappy. 460 00:29:48,967 --> 00:29:50,958 Quite a nice tresh smell, actually. 461 00:29:58,247 --> 00:30:01,239 l mean, it doesn't lather up like modern shampoos do. 462 00:30:01,487 --> 00:30:07,357 But it mostly teels just cool and cleanish, l suppose. 463 00:30:07,407 --> 00:30:08,556 l don't know. 464 00:30:08,607 --> 00:30:10,996 Right, l think l'm ready to rinse it all off. 465 00:30:17,887 --> 00:30:22,278 Peter aIso has a scheme to make the most of meagre scraps 466 00:30:22,327 --> 00:30:24,477 and impress the War Ag at the same time. 467 00:30:25,167 --> 00:30:27,965 Though feed for Iivestock was in short suppIy, 468 00:30:28,007 --> 00:30:31,602 there was one animaI that thrived in conditions of scarcity. 469 00:30:34,567 --> 00:30:38,037 Rabbits were an exceIIent, quick-growing source of meat. 470 00:30:38,087 --> 00:30:40,806 And rabbit-farming was officiaIIy encouraged. 471 00:30:44,487 --> 00:30:47,160 Peter pIans to start a smaII concern, 472 00:30:48,287 --> 00:30:51,199 with the heIp of animaI behaviourist Anne McBride. 473 00:30:53,967 --> 00:30:57,676 Rabbits are extremely good converters ot tood. 474 00:30:57,847 --> 00:31:03,160 They are the best ot the mammals that we keep to produce meat. 475 00:31:03,487 --> 00:31:09,278 They've evolved to live on low-quality, dried toodstuffs. 476 00:31:09,327 --> 00:31:12,239 They evolved in the Southern Spanish peninsular. 477 00:31:12,287 --> 00:31:17,520 lt you think about going to Spain in the summer, it's dry, course, it's very low-quality tood. 478 00:31:17,567 --> 00:31:20,684 And that's what the rabbits are designed to survive on. 479 00:31:20,727 --> 00:31:27,519 So in terms ot tood in, meat out, they're extremely good rapid converters. 480 00:31:28,207 --> 00:31:29,003 Wow. 481 00:31:35,687 --> 00:31:38,645 SeIecting rabbits for breeding is a deIicate process 482 00:31:38,687 --> 00:31:40,996 that begins with sexing. 483 00:31:41,047 --> 00:31:43,003 - These are our rabbits. - Fantastic. 484 00:31:43,047 --> 00:31:46,278 The tirst thing we need to know is which are the boys and which the girls. 485 00:31:46,327 --> 00:31:48,318 Ah. 486 00:31:49,247 --> 00:31:52,319 OK, there we go. Let's get you up. 487 00:31:52,367 --> 00:31:54,358 Sorry. 488 00:31:54,687 --> 00:31:56,678 Good girl. Oh, no, this is a boy. 489 00:31:57,807 --> 00:32:01,436 He's got a very nice pair ot testicles here. 490 00:32:01,927 --> 00:32:03,565 Very large. 491 00:32:03,607 --> 00:32:06,758 So we have here a very nice young man. 492 00:32:08,927 --> 00:32:09,916 Whoops. 493 00:32:09,967 --> 00:32:13,198 You only need one boy but you do need more than one girl. 494 00:32:13,247 --> 00:32:14,282 Quite wriggly. 495 00:32:14,327 --> 00:32:15,555 Ah, another boy. 496 00:32:15,607 --> 00:32:17,598 A little boy. 497 00:32:18,207 --> 00:32:20,801 Well, rabbit No.3. Hopetully this isn't a boy. 498 00:32:21,727 --> 00:32:24,400 - Hey, not a testicle in sight. - No. 499 00:32:26,367 --> 00:32:29,165 There are two more femaIe rabbits to choose from. 500 00:32:33,807 --> 00:32:38,722 Now, ot the two, just based on size, l would go tor this one anyway. 501 00:32:39,247 --> 00:32:43,001 lt you're going to breed large with large, you're more likely to get larger offspring 502 00:32:43,047 --> 00:32:44,366 and a bigger litter. 503 00:32:44,407 --> 00:32:49,561 And as the ultimate aim ot this is to provide as much meat as possible, 504 00:32:49,607 --> 00:32:51,120 then you're going tor that, 505 00:32:51,167 --> 00:32:54,125 - not tor looks or pretty teatures - lndeed. 506 00:33:05,127 --> 00:33:07,880 - At the cottage, Ruth's got a visitor. - Ruth! 507 00:33:07,927 --> 00:33:10,236 - Karen! Nice to see you. - Good to see you. 508 00:33:10,407 --> 00:33:13,080 Laundry day today. You haven't come to help do the laundry? 509 00:33:13,127 --> 00:33:15,197 l've got a surprise tor you. Come with me. 510 00:33:15,247 --> 00:33:16,999 Hang on. 511 00:33:17,047 --> 00:33:18,400 Hang on, hang on. 512 00:33:18,447 --> 00:33:23,123 Historian Karen Sayer studies 1 940s househoId technoIogy 513 00:33:23,767 --> 00:33:26,281 and has brought Ruth a revoIutionary gadget. 514 00:33:27,407 --> 00:33:30,080 Oh, l'm so excited about this. 515 00:33:30,127 --> 00:33:31,958 A washing machine! 516 00:33:32,007 --> 00:33:33,998 Finally a washing machine. 517 00:33:34,247 --> 00:33:36,238 Just like in the advert. 518 00:33:37,607 --> 00:33:40,883 With huge numbers of women working fuII-time for the war effort, 519 00:33:40,927 --> 00:33:43,725 Iabour-saving devices at home were invaIuabIe. 520 00:33:44,727 --> 00:33:47,036 Washing machines were hard to come by. 521 00:33:47,087 --> 00:33:49,920 With many factories converted to make munitions. 522 00:33:49,967 --> 00:33:53,801 But Karen's found a pre-war machine for Ruth to use. 523 00:33:53,847 --> 00:33:56,361 - lt's still not a powered washing machine, is it? - No. 524 00:33:56,407 --> 00:33:58,204 - lt's woman power. - lt is actually... 525 00:33:58,247 --> 00:34:00,920 - l can see her turning the handle. - lt's manual labour. 526 00:34:00,967 --> 00:34:02,195 Yeah. 527 00:34:02,247 --> 00:34:06,240 Where you're tortunate is in connection with the heating ot the water. 528 00:34:06,887 --> 00:34:10,243 This machine was designed to heat water using gas power. 529 00:34:10,287 --> 00:34:12,164 l think the gas inlet is down there. 530 00:34:12,207 --> 00:34:15,643 You could get electrically heated machines as well. 531 00:34:15,687 --> 00:34:19,999 But it is all about the heating ot the water. Because it's saving so much work. 532 00:34:20,487 --> 00:34:22,796 But the farm doesn't have a gas connection. 533 00:34:23,127 --> 00:34:26,915 So the water must be heated separateIy and then brought to the machine. 534 00:34:28,527 --> 00:34:30,836 Here we go. Pop it in. Don't need very much. 535 00:34:32,647 --> 00:34:34,478 - my blouse. - OK. 536 00:34:34,527 --> 00:34:36,483 Some shirts. 537 00:34:36,527 --> 00:34:38,518 my apron. Look at the state ot that. 538 00:34:38,607 --> 00:34:39,835 l got in such a mess. 539 00:34:39,887 --> 00:34:43,323 Let's see it this washing machine's tough enough to handle it. 540 00:34:43,367 --> 00:34:45,198 Well, we could give it a whirl. 541 00:34:45,247 --> 00:34:47,238 See it it really works. 542 00:34:49,847 --> 00:34:51,838 So, moment ot truth, l think. Don't you? 543 00:34:53,767 --> 00:34:56,600 Right, go. Agitate. 544 00:34:56,647 --> 00:34:58,638 Agitate. Agitate. 545 00:34:59,767 --> 00:35:03,362 l read that advert. lt said three minutes to do your weekly wash. 546 00:35:03,407 --> 00:35:04,840 Yes, as it! 547 00:35:04,887 --> 00:35:08,482 l mean, it doesn't take me three minutes to do my weekly wash now. 548 00:35:10,167 --> 00:35:14,206 AIthough washing machines were first marketed in the Iate 1 8th Century, 549 00:35:14,247 --> 00:35:18,206 it wouId be the 1 960s before they became common in British homes. 550 00:35:21,127 --> 00:35:23,846 The next development on trom this would have been the twin tub, 551 00:35:23,887 --> 00:35:26,242 which would have been a powered agitator. 552 00:35:26,287 --> 00:35:29,245 But that wasn't to happen. For a long time. 553 00:35:32,487 --> 00:35:34,876 We must have done our three minutes by now, surely? 554 00:35:34,927 --> 00:35:36,724 - Let's have a look. - Let's have a look. 555 00:35:36,767 --> 00:35:38,758 - So, pull it up. - Pull it up. 556 00:35:40,327 --> 00:35:42,318 OK. 557 00:35:42,807 --> 00:35:45,196 - Well, it smells good and laundrysome. - lt does. 558 00:35:45,247 --> 00:35:47,238 Smells very wholesome. 559 00:35:49,447 --> 00:35:50,766 ls that your apron? 560 00:35:50,807 --> 00:35:53,162 - That's looking a lot better. - lt is, isn't it? 561 00:35:53,207 --> 00:35:55,277 - You see? - Yeah, that's shifted it. 562 00:35:55,407 --> 00:35:57,079 There we go. 563 00:35:57,127 --> 00:35:59,118 Squeezy, squeezy, squeezy. 564 00:36:00,767 --> 00:36:02,758 l like this bit. 565 00:36:08,087 --> 00:36:09,566 l love washing machines. 566 00:36:09,607 --> 00:36:12,201 l think ot them as an implement ot women's lib. 567 00:36:12,927 --> 00:36:14,918 Well, l think you're right. 568 00:36:18,167 --> 00:36:20,556 Where are you planning to put it? Down here? 569 00:36:20,607 --> 00:36:23,883 Peter and Anne are ready to start breeding their rabbits. 570 00:36:25,087 --> 00:36:28,159 l suppose the tirst thing we need them to do is actually... 571 00:36:30,167 --> 00:36:31,725 - Do the business. - Yes. 572 00:36:32,207 --> 00:36:33,276 Exactly. 573 00:36:34,207 --> 00:36:36,198 The sun's come out tor you. 574 00:36:37,047 --> 00:36:41,120 The buck is put in first so that he can estabIish the run as his territory. 575 00:36:42,047 --> 00:36:44,766 l think he's rather enjoying himselt at the moment. 576 00:36:44,807 --> 00:36:50,040 lt they don't mate at this attempt, does that mean that it's never going to happen? 577 00:36:51,127 --> 00:36:55,325 No, it could mean that she's just not ready yet because they do have a cycle. 578 00:36:55,447 --> 00:36:59,759 He might spray her with urine, which in rabbit language means he tancies her. 579 00:37:00,447 --> 00:37:02,119 Don't try it at home. 580 00:37:02,167 --> 00:37:04,840 And we'll just see how they get on. 581 00:37:08,527 --> 00:37:10,404 - Now, there you go. - That was pretty tast. 582 00:37:10,447 --> 00:37:12,119 That was pretty quick tor that. 583 00:37:12,167 --> 00:37:14,476 Clearly we've got her at the right time. 584 00:37:14,527 --> 00:37:17,917 - They're certainly living up to the stereotype. - They are. 585 00:37:19,087 --> 00:37:20,998 And that's it over and done with. 586 00:37:21,047 --> 00:37:22,924 The whole thing is quite tast. 587 00:37:23,647 --> 00:37:25,683 Then we've got some nice grooming behaviour. 588 00:37:25,727 --> 00:37:26,842 Oh, yeah. 589 00:37:26,887 --> 00:37:29,606 - Him showing... - Some affection. 590 00:37:29,647 --> 00:37:30,875 Some affection. 591 00:37:30,927 --> 00:37:32,076 Excellent. 592 00:37:32,127 --> 00:37:34,482 Looks really hopetul. For baby rabbits. 593 00:37:35,247 --> 00:37:40,844 Not to put a dampener on it, but how long until those babies are ready to be butchered? 594 00:37:41,247 --> 00:37:44,080 Really, at the weight you want them, l guess. 595 00:37:44,127 --> 00:37:47,597 You know, three to tour months you can have an animal that's a goodly size. 596 00:37:49,007 --> 00:37:53,080 Peter hopes his frugaI new enterprise wiII pIease the War Ag inspector. 597 00:37:54,767 --> 00:37:56,325 But his main concern 598 00:37:56,367 --> 00:38:00,042 wiII be how weII the team have done with the fIax they've been ordered to grow 599 00:38:00,087 --> 00:38:02,282 to produce textiIes for the war effort. 600 00:38:04,927 --> 00:38:07,043 AIex is getting ready to sow the fieId. 601 00:38:07,407 --> 00:38:09,477 But he's worried about pest controI. 602 00:38:10,247 --> 00:38:14,638 Any resuIting Ioss of crops wouId invite the dispIeasure of the War Ag. 603 00:38:15,647 --> 00:38:19,401 Pigeons and the rooks and the crows... go to do something about them. 604 00:38:19,447 --> 00:38:22,519 And l know they don't particularly savour tlax seed 605 00:38:22,567 --> 00:38:26,401 but, at the same time, what l don't want to tind is we get the little shoot coming out 606 00:38:26,447 --> 00:38:28,483 and it's like a beacon to crows and rooks. 607 00:38:28,527 --> 00:38:33,203 They'll see that shoot and know that at the bottom ot that shoot is a nice sweet little seed. 608 00:38:33,247 --> 00:38:36,364 And l don't want to lose any ot this tlax crop. 609 00:38:36,407 --> 00:38:39,922 l want to keep the ministry tor Agriculture as happy as l can. 610 00:38:40,367 --> 00:38:44,883 So l'm going to tind some kind ot way ot scaring the birds out ot this tield. 611 00:38:45,247 --> 00:38:48,956 And l'm not going to go tor the old-tashioned scarecrow this time. 612 00:38:56,087 --> 00:39:02,037 At the start of the war one miIIion tonnes of food were being Iost to pests every year. 613 00:39:02,567 --> 00:39:07,561 EIiminating the probIem was seen as a patriotic duty if Britain was going to feed itseIf. 614 00:39:08,127 --> 00:39:11,039 lt's almost like a war on pests as much as a war on anything else. 615 00:39:11,087 --> 00:39:14,204 We're so desperate tor every last little bit coming out ot the tields. 616 00:39:14,247 --> 00:39:18,559 - Yeah. - You can't afford to let halt ot it be taken. 617 00:39:19,047 --> 00:39:21,515 You know, it we're going to go tor that A category 618 00:39:21,567 --> 00:39:25,640 then we should at least be seen to be doing something, l think, about the bird problem. 619 00:39:30,567 --> 00:39:34,446 AIex has taken inspiration from a 1 940s product. 620 00:39:35,887 --> 00:39:37,878 You see, in this little... 621 00:39:40,487 --> 00:39:42,478 advertisement... 622 00:39:42,807 --> 00:39:43,523 ''Bang!'' 623 00:39:43,567 --> 00:39:46,081 And what looks like a tirecracker going up the centre. 624 00:39:46,127 --> 00:39:46,877 Yeah. 625 00:39:46,927 --> 00:39:50,044 So it goes bang, pushes the corrugated iron up and it tlaps about. 626 00:39:50,087 --> 00:39:53,363 And that's what happens. Look. Rabbits tlee in terror. 627 00:39:54,607 --> 00:39:55,960 - Noisy enough? - This? 628 00:39:56,007 --> 00:39:57,201 Come on. 629 00:39:57,247 --> 00:39:59,886 - lt's not bad, is it? - We want it to go trom there, don't we? 630 00:40:01,247 --> 00:40:05,320 AIex has ordered in expIosives identicaI to the wartime ones. 631 00:40:06,247 --> 00:40:10,081 So that's gunpowder, isn't it, wrapped up in paper stuck into a bit ot string. 632 00:40:10,127 --> 00:40:12,118 Now, we've just got to hope... 633 00:40:12,487 --> 00:40:14,762 that there's enough power in each one ot these... 634 00:40:14,807 --> 00:40:16,763 - To blow it open? - To blow it open, yeah. 635 00:40:19,767 --> 00:40:21,883 - Head for the spade, Ruth. - Oh, yeah. 636 00:40:23,847 --> 00:40:27,283 The bird scarer wiII be tested in a nearby fieId. 637 00:40:31,087 --> 00:40:33,396 The thing is, is it going to be deep enough? 638 00:40:41,247 --> 00:40:43,238 So, moment ot truth, Ruth. 639 00:40:47,927 --> 00:40:52,000 Well, l reckon a charge... One ot those whole things has got to last a day. 640 00:40:52,327 --> 00:40:55,797 Yeah, so it's going to be quite some time, l should think, betore we get... 641 00:41:00,447 --> 00:41:01,960 Ooh. 642 00:41:02,007 --> 00:41:03,725 Smoke. 643 00:41:04,447 --> 00:41:06,403 (Ruth laughs) 644 00:41:08,487 --> 00:41:10,478 lt was a good bang. 645 00:41:11,567 --> 00:41:13,956 lt didn't tlap, though. lt scarcely moved. 646 00:41:17,247 --> 00:41:18,600 - The tuse is lit. - lt is. 647 00:41:18,647 --> 00:41:21,320 Presumably it'll work its way up and bang again. 648 00:41:21,967 --> 00:41:25,642 lt would be nice it they did tlap around more, but...it scared me. 649 00:41:28,047 --> 00:41:32,837 The Second WorId War saw farmers aII over Britain battIing to reduce pests. 650 00:41:34,327 --> 00:41:38,400 The bird scarer shouId heIp the team make a good impression on the War Ag. 651 00:41:46,207 --> 00:41:50,120 In June 1 94 1, the course of the war was transformed 652 00:41:50,167 --> 00:41:52,362 when Germany invaded the Soviet Union. 653 00:41:56,807 --> 00:42:01,403 But the resuIting confIict on the Russian front was bad news for British farmers. 654 00:42:02,967 --> 00:42:07,597 The Government diverted shipping to send munitions to the Soviet Union, 655 00:42:07,647 --> 00:42:11,242 Ieaving even fewer vesseIs avaiIabIe to bring food to Britain. 656 00:42:15,007 --> 00:42:18,602 The War Ags now ordered farmers to redoubIe their efforts 657 00:42:18,647 --> 00:42:21,764 to increase the nation's home-grown food production. 658 00:42:26,127 --> 00:42:29,358 MiIk remained a vitaI part of this campaign. 659 00:42:31,567 --> 00:42:36,880 The farm's cows have at Iast had their caIves and the team can begin miIking. 660 00:42:38,527 --> 00:42:42,281 The wartime need to get maximum yieId and keep the herd heaIthy 661 00:42:42,327 --> 00:42:44,795 greatIy increased the roIe of vets on farms. 662 00:42:47,127 --> 00:42:51,245 Veterinarian AbigaiI Woods has come to advise AIex and Peter. 663 00:42:51,847 --> 00:42:53,838 Come on, cows. Come on. 664 00:42:56,327 --> 00:42:59,046 ln the 1 930s, farrmers had no money. 665 00:43:00,247 --> 00:43:03,125 They would only call vets as an absolute last resort. 666 00:43:03,167 --> 00:43:05,920 You know, it something was on its last legs and about to die. 667 00:43:07,767 --> 00:43:11,555 Now, 1 940s, vets are on tarms 668 00:43:11,607 --> 00:43:15,361 essentially to deal with the sorts ot diseases 669 00:43:15,407 --> 00:43:17,762 that weren't thought a big deal ot betore. 670 00:43:17,807 --> 00:43:19,638 Because they didn't kill cows. 671 00:43:19,687 --> 00:43:21,678 So diseases like mastitis. 672 00:43:22,847 --> 00:43:24,326 lntertility. 673 00:43:24,847 --> 00:43:29,841 They're not dramatic diseases but they have a major impact on milk production. 674 00:43:30,087 --> 00:43:33,602 - Right. - And, you know, 1 941 , 675 00:43:33,647 --> 00:43:36,320 this nation needs all the milk it can possibly get. 676 00:43:38,487 --> 00:43:41,047 Mastitis, an infection of the udder, 677 00:43:41,087 --> 00:43:44,716 is easiIy caused by using the miIking machine incorrectIy. 678 00:43:45,887 --> 00:43:47,878 That's great. 679 00:43:48,607 --> 00:43:50,484 Betore we start milking proper, 680 00:43:50,527 --> 00:43:54,122 the next thing is just to get a little squirt ot milk out ot each teat. 681 00:43:54,167 --> 00:43:56,158 - Out ot each one? - Out ot each one. 682 00:43:56,287 --> 00:43:57,561 Just a little bit. 683 00:43:57,607 --> 00:44:00,485 Don't get it all over the tloor. make sure it goes into that mug. 684 00:44:00,527 --> 00:44:02,085 So the reason we're doing this 685 00:44:02,127 --> 00:44:04,277 is that trom the appearance ot that milk 686 00:44:04,327 --> 00:44:07,080 you can pick up the early signs ot mastitis. 687 00:44:07,287 --> 00:44:12,566 So any nasty little clots or tlecks in the milk or it smells a bit tunny... 688 00:44:13,807 --> 00:44:15,035 - That's tine. - Smells OK. 689 00:44:15,087 --> 00:44:16,315 That's absolutely tine. 690 00:44:16,847 --> 00:44:18,758 - So turn it on. - (Hiss) 691 00:44:18,807 --> 00:44:21,037 There we go. So you can hear it's coming through. 692 00:44:21,087 --> 00:44:24,966 So it you put your thumb on that, you should be able to teel the vacuum. 693 00:44:25,047 --> 00:44:27,038 - That's just pulsating. - That's right. 694 00:44:27,087 --> 00:44:30,966 lt you just put a straight vacuum on that and it didn't pulse, it would damage the teats. 695 00:44:31,007 --> 00:44:33,999 - Right. OK. - The pulsing gives it a chance to recover. 696 00:44:34,047 --> 00:44:36,436 Attaching the vacuum cups is a tricky task. 697 00:44:39,887 --> 00:44:41,559 Put your thumb over the end tirst. 698 00:44:41,607 --> 00:44:43,518 That's it. 699 00:44:43,567 --> 00:44:45,080 No, it's not... 700 00:44:45,127 --> 00:44:47,118 - That's it. - Oh, there we go. 701 00:44:47,527 --> 00:44:49,518 - There we go. - Two. 702 00:44:50,407 --> 00:44:51,317 Ah. 703 00:44:51,367 --> 00:44:54,643 lt looks like you're winning the battle there but perhaps not the war. 704 00:44:56,927 --> 00:44:58,201 - There we go. - Brilliant. 705 00:44:58,247 --> 00:45:00,920 - And will that just hold itselt on? - That will, yeah. 706 00:45:00,967 --> 00:45:03,003 - l don't have to stay here? - You can stand up. 707 00:45:03,047 --> 00:45:05,038 About three or tour minutes now. 708 00:45:05,567 --> 00:45:07,478 But you've got to do everything just right 709 00:45:07,527 --> 00:45:09,882 because it something goes wrong with this machine, 710 00:45:09,927 --> 00:45:12,919 you can do more damage that way than by hand-milking. 711 00:45:13,007 --> 00:45:16,795 Do you know how much it's sucking out, a ratio, a rate? 712 00:45:16,847 --> 00:45:17,996 lt's quite quick, is it? 713 00:45:18,047 --> 00:45:21,119 Yeah, it's about 40 to 60 pulses a minute. 714 00:45:21,167 --> 00:45:24,125 That is the trequency which a calt sucks. 715 00:45:24,407 --> 00:45:27,319 - Right. - lt's also the trequency that a cow's heart beats. 716 00:45:27,367 --> 00:45:29,039 So it's a sort ot... 717 00:45:29,087 --> 00:45:30,964 - OK. - There's some logic behind that. 718 00:45:31,007 --> 00:45:33,123 There's a bit ot rhythm here, a natural rhythm. 719 00:45:35,207 --> 00:45:37,243 - OK, so she looks like she's done. - Right. 720 00:45:37,727 --> 00:45:41,879 Farmers were under pressure to send the miIk they produced into the rationing system, 721 00:45:42,167 --> 00:45:44,635 keeping onIy a smaII amount for themseIves. 722 00:45:45,607 --> 00:45:47,199 There we go. Fresh out ot the cow. 723 00:45:47,247 --> 00:45:48,566 That's tairly tull. 724 00:45:48,607 --> 00:45:52,919 Most were prohibited from turning it into butter or cheese at home. 725 00:45:52,967 --> 00:45:56,118 These foods were now produced in centraIised factories, 726 00:45:56,167 --> 00:45:59,682 so the Government couId keep a cIose eye on what was being made. 727 00:46:01,367 --> 00:46:06,885 But if any miIk went sour before it Ieft the farm, farmers couId get speciaI dispensation to use it. 728 00:46:09,127 --> 00:46:11,277 my milk's turned. 729 00:46:11,327 --> 00:46:13,318 lt's off. 730 00:46:13,487 --> 00:46:15,478 But luckily not a disaster. 731 00:46:16,367 --> 00:46:18,961 Cheese, after all, is just off milk. 732 00:46:19,007 --> 00:46:20,201 That's all it is. 733 00:46:20,247 --> 00:46:23,364 All you've got to do is separate the curds trom the whey. 734 00:46:23,647 --> 00:46:26,320 And all l'm going to do is strain it. 735 00:46:26,407 --> 00:46:28,398 (Trickling) 736 00:46:28,727 --> 00:46:32,242 Agricultural workers really telt the need tor cheese. 737 00:46:32,287 --> 00:46:34,164 They'd always been big cheese eaters. 738 00:46:34,207 --> 00:46:38,485 Taking a lump ot bread and cheese out into the tield is the easiest way ot dealing with lunch 739 00:46:38,527 --> 00:46:40,518 miles away trom the tarmhouse. 740 00:46:43,847 --> 00:46:45,246 A little bit more. 741 00:46:50,647 --> 00:46:53,241 lt's only going to need a sprinkle ot salt... 742 00:46:54,487 --> 00:46:56,045 ..and a dusting ot chives 743 00:46:56,087 --> 00:46:58,681 and l've cottage cheese that we can have in sandwiches. 744 00:47:06,167 --> 00:47:09,364 With the War Ag inspector due to revisit the farm soon, 745 00:47:09,407 --> 00:47:12,240 the boys must now get on with sowing the fIax. 746 00:47:12,327 --> 00:47:14,966 - The tlax isn't getting any lighter. - No, it's not. 747 00:47:15,007 --> 00:47:16,360 Nearly there, though. 748 00:47:16,407 --> 00:47:19,399 Certainly got the weather tor it as well, haven't we? 749 00:47:25,287 --> 00:47:30,315 AIex and Peter have enIisted heIp from one of the few remaining fIax farmers in Britain. 750 00:47:30,367 --> 00:47:32,358 Simon Cooper. 751 00:47:32,407 --> 00:47:35,763 So what l've done is l've brought along a bit ot tlax just to show you 752 00:47:35,807 --> 00:47:37,843 what we're hoping you're going to achieve. 753 00:47:37,887 --> 00:47:39,036 - The end product. - Yes. 754 00:47:39,087 --> 00:47:40,964 So what's so special about it? 755 00:47:41,007 --> 00:47:43,840 Behind the bark you'll see the tibres. 756 00:47:44,887 --> 00:47:49,278 The tlax tibres, tor making ropes, canvas, tenting, 757 00:47:49,327 --> 00:47:50,601 tire hoses. 758 00:47:50,647 --> 00:47:52,717 lts got a whole load ot uses. 759 00:47:52,767 --> 00:47:55,486 We have brought you two bags ot tlax. 760 00:47:55,847 --> 00:47:57,997 - You do have a seed drill. - Yes. Yeah. 761 00:47:58,047 --> 00:47:59,924 - And we have a tield we need to sow. - Good. 762 00:48:00,527 --> 00:48:04,486 FIax was such a rareIy grown crop in pre-1 940s Britain 763 00:48:04,527 --> 00:48:07,599 that virtuaIIy no machinery was set up to deaI with it. 764 00:48:07,807 --> 00:48:09,798 ''Peas, oats, barley, wheat.'' 765 00:48:11,407 --> 00:48:13,398 - No tlax. - No tlax. 766 00:48:16,007 --> 00:48:17,998 We'll go there and see how it goes. 767 00:48:18,967 --> 00:48:20,958 Try and lift it up. There we are. 768 00:48:24,607 --> 00:48:29,727 This seed driII needs to be caIibrated, so the correct amount of seed wiII be sown in the soiI. 769 00:48:30,487 --> 00:48:32,318 You want to spin the wheel 1 0 times. 770 00:48:32,367 --> 00:48:34,358 - 1 0 complete revolutions? - Yeah. 771 00:48:45,847 --> 00:48:47,838 Nine and three quarters, 1 0. 772 00:48:52,527 --> 00:48:55,360 That's almost perfectly on... Just under eight ounces. 773 00:48:55,407 --> 00:48:57,204 - Eight ounces. - Yeah. 774 00:48:57,247 --> 00:48:59,203 So it's probably a little bit high. 775 00:48:59,247 --> 00:49:01,886 lt we just go down a setting, we'll be pretty close with that. 776 00:49:01,927 --> 00:49:05,442 We want to get this right. We really want to get a good even crop. 777 00:49:06,567 --> 00:49:10,685 So it competes with itselt, makes itselt grow tall and straight. 778 00:49:10,727 --> 00:49:12,285 Hopetully keeps the weeds down. 779 00:49:12,327 --> 00:49:14,795 Let's take the time, then, Peter, and get this right. 780 00:49:14,847 --> 00:49:17,236 Remember, we're looking tor that A rating. 781 00:49:19,287 --> 00:49:25,157 After hanging forjust an hour, the sour miIk is transformed into cheese that's ready to eat. 782 00:49:25,807 --> 00:49:27,798 There we go. 783 00:49:42,007 --> 00:49:43,998 mm, it's quite nice. 784 00:49:47,327 --> 00:49:50,444 - Need a hand starting it? - Yes, please, Peter. 785 00:49:51,407 --> 00:49:53,398 This is the ignition key. 786 00:49:54,007 --> 00:49:55,565 (Laughs) 787 00:49:55,607 --> 00:49:57,996 - Well, you certainly won't lose that, will you? - No. 788 00:49:58,047 --> 00:50:01,278 - You've started this betore, haven't you? - Yes, yes. 789 00:50:01,327 --> 00:50:03,557 - Experienced? - No. 790 00:50:03,607 --> 00:50:06,440 So, naked tlame, diesel, 791 00:50:06,487 --> 00:50:08,478 shotgun cartridge. 792 00:50:10,647 --> 00:50:12,638 OK. Let's get that tightened up. 793 00:50:14,287 --> 00:50:15,959 OK, here we go. 794 00:50:16,007 --> 00:50:17,998 Don't miss. 795 00:50:22,247 --> 00:50:24,238 (Engine starts) 796 00:50:25,407 --> 00:50:26,522 Just like that. 797 00:50:36,727 --> 00:50:39,195 The acreage of fIax grown in Britain 798 00:50:39,247 --> 00:50:43,923 increased from 1,000 acres to 60,000 over the course of the war. 799 00:50:44,807 --> 00:50:48,959 SpeciaIIy buiIt factories across the country turned the crop into textiIes 800 00:50:49,007 --> 00:50:51,680 that were vitaIIy important for the war effort. 801 00:50:57,447 --> 00:51:00,041 How long is this going to take? When do we harvest it? 802 00:51:00,087 --> 00:51:02,840 - Well, it's round about 1 00 days. - Right. 803 00:51:02,887 --> 00:51:04,366 From planting till harvest. 804 00:51:04,407 --> 00:51:06,523 lt's a very, very quick-growing crop. 805 00:51:13,567 --> 00:51:15,558 Hi, chaps. 806 00:51:16,407 --> 00:51:17,806 Sarnies! 807 00:51:17,847 --> 00:51:19,838 Hello. 808 00:51:21,967 --> 00:51:24,401 - Oh, thank you very much. - Cottage cheese ot my own. 809 00:51:24,447 --> 00:51:26,403 - What's this? - lt's my cottage cheese. 810 00:51:26,447 --> 00:51:28,438 You're a lite-saver. 811 00:51:28,767 --> 00:51:30,758 - ls it all right? - mm. 812 00:51:31,087 --> 00:51:33,078 Better than wasting it. 813 00:51:34,007 --> 00:51:35,520 mm. 814 00:51:35,567 --> 00:51:37,637 Are you going to get it done today, do you think? 815 00:51:37,687 --> 00:51:38,358 Yeah. 816 00:51:38,407 --> 00:51:40,443 - We're going to get this in today. - Good. 817 00:51:40,487 --> 00:51:42,478 Right, save that tor later. 818 00:51:43,527 --> 00:51:45,245 Let's get this baby started up again. 819 00:51:45,767 --> 00:51:47,758 Ready? 820 00:51:48,327 --> 00:51:53,242 To make sure they get aII the fieIdwork done, the farmers have enIisted some extra heIp. 821 00:51:55,047 --> 00:51:56,480 Hello! 822 00:51:56,527 --> 00:51:58,518 Come on through! 823 00:52:05,807 --> 00:52:10,676 LocaI farmer Robert Sampson has brought his horses to harrow the ground, 824 00:52:10,727 --> 00:52:14,003 breaking up and IeveIIing out the soiI to embed the seeds. 825 00:52:14,247 --> 00:52:17,125 No! l didn't ask anybody to move. 826 00:52:18,927 --> 00:52:20,918 Come here. Come here. 827 00:52:21,007 --> 00:52:23,202 Those are good-looking beasts. 828 00:52:23,247 --> 00:52:24,965 They're not shires. What are they? 829 00:52:25,007 --> 00:52:28,966 These are British Percherons, a compact powerful horse 830 00:52:29,007 --> 00:52:30,759 capable ot all tarm-work 831 00:52:30,807 --> 00:52:32,923 and you could trot them to town it you wanted. 832 00:52:33,687 --> 00:52:34,915 Come on, keep going. 833 00:52:34,967 --> 00:52:38,437 - l might be talking but l'm not talking to you. - (Ruth laughs) 834 00:52:40,207 --> 00:52:42,846 Percherons originaIIy came from France 835 00:52:42,887 --> 00:52:46,277 but began to appear on British farms in the earIy 20th Century. 836 00:52:47,087 --> 00:52:48,600 Just after the First World War. 837 00:52:48,647 --> 00:52:52,162 The British Army were looking tor a heavy artillery horse 838 00:52:52,207 --> 00:52:55,358 that was capable ot tast movement. 839 00:52:55,407 --> 00:52:58,843 Ot course, war was mechanised and they were never needed. 840 00:52:58,887 --> 00:53:02,721 But they went on to the tarms because the tarms were where they came trom. 841 00:53:02,767 --> 00:53:03,961 And a sight like this 842 00:53:04,007 --> 00:53:07,920 with a tractor and horses working in the same tield at the same time 843 00:53:07,967 --> 00:53:10,879 is a really typical sight ot World War Two, isn't it? 844 00:53:10,927 --> 00:53:12,076 Yes, oh, detinitely. 845 00:53:19,967 --> 00:53:22,276 Despite the infIux of tractors, 846 00:53:22,327 --> 00:53:26,161 working horses made a huge contribution to wartime farming. 847 00:53:26,967 --> 00:53:30,004 Their numbers had decIined in the 1 930s 848 00:53:30,047 --> 00:53:32,197 but the Second WorId War revived them 849 00:53:32,247 --> 00:53:37,560 and by 1 945, there were aImost haIf a miIIion working horses on British farms, 850 00:53:37,607 --> 00:53:39,563 twice the number of tractors. 851 00:53:39,607 --> 00:53:42,804 - Nice to see the horses out working. - lt is. 852 00:53:45,007 --> 00:53:47,805 l am an absolute bag ot bones. 853 00:53:48,527 --> 00:53:53,282 l'd give my hind teeth to be behind those two horses. 854 00:53:58,487 --> 00:54:02,765 After a Iong day's work, the fIax is safeIy in the ground. 855 00:54:05,367 --> 00:54:07,358 Looking good. 856 00:54:07,887 --> 00:54:09,684 Oh, my head! 857 00:54:09,727 --> 00:54:10,921 That's so noisy. 858 00:54:10,967 --> 00:54:12,958 - You all right there? - (Groans) 859 00:54:14,087 --> 00:54:16,078 Good Lord. 860 00:54:17,127 --> 00:54:18,321 What a machine. 861 00:54:18,367 --> 00:54:21,040 Well, l think we've all earned ourselves a beer. 862 00:54:23,487 --> 00:54:25,478 my back! 863 00:54:26,567 --> 00:54:28,842 lt's not the most ergonomically designed seat, is it? 864 00:54:28,887 --> 00:54:31,117 - Know the best thing about that tractor? - What? 865 00:54:31,167 --> 00:54:33,158 l can't hear you complaining. 866 00:54:36,047 --> 00:54:38,038 my back! my back! 867 00:54:39,687 --> 00:54:40,756 There you go. 868 00:54:40,807 --> 00:54:43,719 Right, we'll get these down us and then l'll get back to the yard 869 00:54:43,767 --> 00:54:45,564 and get that bird scarer. 870 00:54:45,607 --> 00:54:47,484 And get it out here as soon as possible. 871 00:54:47,527 --> 00:54:51,759 Because l don't want to lose any ot this crop. l want to keep the man trom the ministry happy. 872 00:54:51,807 --> 00:54:53,718 - Yeah. - He'll be pleased, l'm sure. 873 00:54:53,767 --> 00:54:54,836 - Cheers. - Cheers. 874 00:54:54,887 --> 00:54:56,240 Thanks ever so much. 875 00:54:56,287 --> 00:54:58,084 Here's to a tlax crop. 876 00:55:05,367 --> 00:55:07,927 The War Ag inspector is about to return 877 00:55:07,967 --> 00:55:11,437 to judge how weII the team have carried out his instructions. 878 00:55:13,047 --> 00:55:18,121 Just in time, the rabbits have started nesting, meaning their babies shouId be born soon. 879 00:55:24,567 --> 00:55:28,276 And the farmers are keeping carefuI records of their miIk yieIds 880 00:55:28,327 --> 00:55:31,205 to make sure they have aII the information to hand. 881 00:55:42,967 --> 00:55:44,195 With everything in pIace, 882 00:55:44,247 --> 00:55:49,719 they're ready for the Iong-anticipated return of War Ag expert Brian Short. 883 00:55:53,047 --> 00:55:54,765 (Bang) 884 00:55:54,807 --> 00:55:56,286 And that was the bird scarer. 885 00:55:56,327 --> 00:55:57,601 Yes. Very effective. 886 00:55:57,647 --> 00:55:59,399 Yeah, well, l'd like to think so. 887 00:55:59,447 --> 00:56:01,597 Flax was one ot the crops 888 00:56:01,647 --> 00:56:05,481 that you said would put us in the ministry ot Agriculture's good books. 889 00:56:05,527 --> 00:56:09,406 - Yes, absolutely right. - All the time l've got my eye on that grade A. 890 00:56:09,447 --> 00:56:10,641 - Yes. - Ever hopetul. 891 00:56:10,687 --> 00:56:12,917 meanwhile, the cows are coming to milk 892 00:56:12,967 --> 00:56:15,606 and we're getting about two gallons a day off each one. 893 00:56:15,647 --> 00:56:16,796 Very good. 894 00:56:16,847 --> 00:56:20,237 We have branched out into a rabbit concern. 895 00:56:21,447 --> 00:56:23,438 We've started off with two. 896 00:56:23,487 --> 00:56:25,637 But they are multiplying as we speak. 897 00:56:25,687 --> 00:56:27,086 - (Laughter) - Right. 898 00:56:27,127 --> 00:56:30,085 lt's amazing how tast that process happens. 899 00:56:30,127 --> 00:56:31,526 Well, that's good. 900 00:56:31,567 --> 00:56:34,684 Any meat tor the pot helps. 901 00:56:34,727 --> 00:56:40,006 So, Brian, we now get to the burning issue ot the grade, the category, 902 00:56:40,047 --> 00:56:43,722 - that you would like to assign to our tarm. - Yes. 903 00:56:43,767 --> 00:56:45,678 Well, ot course, it's not just this tield. 904 00:56:45,727 --> 00:56:49,481 One has to take account ot the whole tarming operation. 905 00:56:49,527 --> 00:56:53,679 But l would have thought that given what you've done, 906 00:56:53,727 --> 00:56:57,481 you are working to at least 60% ot productivity 907 00:56:57,527 --> 00:56:58,846 on a tarm like this. 908 00:56:58,887 --> 00:57:00,878 So that's a B, OK? 909 00:57:01,967 --> 00:57:03,320 Right. 910 00:57:05,287 --> 00:57:10,236 There are some War Ags who actually used B pluses and B minuses. 911 00:57:10,287 --> 00:57:12,881 l think you might be edging towards a B plus. 912 00:57:12,927 --> 00:57:14,406 - Really? - Whoo! 913 00:57:14,447 --> 00:57:16,438 - B plus. - l can live with that. 914 00:57:17,007 --> 00:57:18,156 l think so. 915 00:57:18,207 --> 00:57:21,085 Right, well, let's have a cup ot tea betore we get any wetter. 916 00:57:21,127 --> 00:57:24,597 - Are you allowed a cup ot tea afterwards? - After l've graded you. 917 00:57:25,127 --> 00:57:28,517 You'd have got a biscuit with it as well it you'd given us an A. 918 00:57:32,287 --> 00:57:37,680 The War Ag's centraI roIe in British agricuIture continued throughout the Second WorId War, 919 00:57:37,847 --> 00:57:39,565 becoming more and more demanding. 920 00:57:40,887 --> 00:57:42,798 It was a grueIIing chaIIenge 921 00:57:42,847 --> 00:57:46,317 but one from which the nation's farmers wouId not fIinch.