After a rainy week-end which damped all but our spirits, there was a decided improvement in the weather on Monday morning for the first day's labour. Our task was to weed a three-acre field of marrows. In spite of occasional showers the job was finished to the satisfaction of the farmer.

Throughout the fortnight, work was quite varied, a large percentage of the camp being employed on farms in the neighbourhood as well as the one where we were staying. From such menial tasks as cleaning out duck-houses, which we undertook in wet weather, our employment included the somewhat more enjoyable jobs of pea-picking and turnip-pulling. A party of boys was also required daily for stooking at Freckleton, which necessitated a lorry journey of some ten miles—an extremely popular feature. " Ee's a good driver, is our Les," we were told, and a sixty-mile-per-hour journey along winding country lanes soon proved the truth of this statement.

But the whole of our time was not devoted to farm-work ; after a late dinner we found various ways of occupying what remained of the evening. Swimming was a popular exercise, in spite of the rather limited facilities offered by the nearby canal. Cycling was restricted to the week-end ride home which most boys undertook, and to the nightly pilgrimage to the " delicatessen " shops at Preston. This does not imply, however, that plentiful supplies of food were not available in camp. Far from it! Huge quantities of potatoes, roast beef, and steam puddings, cooked and served daily under the skilful supervision of Mr. and Mrs. Carey and Mrs. Wood, along with enormous quantities of sandwiches and oatmeal porridge, were consumed with singular case and obvious enjoyment. Farming undoubtedly proved itself to be a powerful stimulant to youthful appetites.

The camp was in every way a great success, no less for the farmers than for the boys. For this our thanks aie largely due to Mr. Wood, Mr. Bailey and Mr. Eyton-Jones for their excellent management and organisation. It speaks well for the camp that this year many " old hands " are going to Skelmersdale, where we hope they will enjoy an equally successful fortnight gathering in another wartime harvest.

J.D.W., K.F.C.