Hello all. I'm forwarding on this article on Agricultural Labourers as our ancestors were some. Donna > Ag Labs. Salt of the Earth! Found in Liverpool Family Historian June 02 > > Food For Thought- He must have been an Ag Lab > > "Ask yourselves whether you know the gestation period for a sheep or a cow, > and you can't read or write to make a note of it. The ag lab knew when the > animal would calve by observing the position of the stars and work it out > from that, or from the particular religious festivals being celebrated in > church at the appropriate times. Reading and writing is one thing, but it > wasn't necessary, numeracy however or a limited knowledge of it was > essential so as to count his or his masters livestock and his own money and > to tell the time. It was no good thinking that 7 o'clock came immediately > after three bells had just struck on the church clock! > > There was no electricity, the lanes were bad and there was no health > service. The Ag lab knew how to make his own rush lights to light his home, > the shortest and driest route between 2 places and which herbs to pick as > remedies for his families ailments. He knew his neighbours far better than > we know ours. We isolate ourselves in our cars and in front of our > television sets. He relied on neighbours with different skills from his, to > help him out when the need arose. He was thrifty where we borrow on bits of > plastic he and his family had to make ends meet regardless or with great > shame go on the parish. > > Yes he could even forecast his local weatherby watching the reactions of > wildlife and plants to changing conditions. He was far better at it than any > of us from our centrally heated homes and offices. He knew how to thatch and > how to get straight straw for thatching whereas we send for experts to fix a > cracked slate. > > He was tough. He could walk for days behind a plough, pulled by a team of > horses, and still walkmiles to church each sunday. A 20 mile walk laden with > produce or purchases to and from market each week was also the norm for > some. No fancily equipped gymnasium for him, yet he was fitter than today's > health freaks who maybe should take a lesson or two from his ancestors. > > Can you use a sickle or scythe from dawn to dusk, in all weathers? Can you > snare a rabbit for dinner or cut beanpoles from a hedge in a manner that > will promote further growth? Can you mix your own whitewash, or train a dog > to hunt or round up sheep for you? Come to that can you milk a cow or > slaughter and butcher a sheep or pig? > > So called ag labs were no fools. they survived and very few of us would be > here to read this if they hadn't! > > Leave your car at home and walk to work tomorrow, even if it is five miles, > your ancestor did!" > > >