FTX-414 - SOMERSET FARM TALK

ERNEST SHIRE

Ernest Shire, of Churchinford, near Taunton, talks about local dialect; milk; butter; cheese; bread-making and wheats used; drashing, animal diseases; local vets; cowmen & cowfoods; going to church; squires who spited parson; building own chapel and ringing bell; tells a rabbiting story; weather signs; all kinds of birds; wasps, bees, nettles and Carnivals.

1. LOCAL DIALECTS: Being taken for an American by a Bridgwater Cemetery Caretaker; North Devon "Savages"; Standard English at School - 3.10

2. MILK, BUTTER AND CHEESE: Family farms belonging to the church; taking milk to Honiton; price; making butter; salting; cheeses - 5.35

3. BAKING BREAD: corn dust; winnowing; grinding etc.- 1.30

4. BREAD (cont.): Yeast; Brewer's balm rising with "white dogs" - 2.25

5. WHEAT: varieties; black wheat; kill a horse; barley - 1.42

6. DRASHING STORY - 1.00

7. VETS (Veterinary doctors): Various diseases; stories of vets - 4.20

8. COW AILMENTS: injections; mastitis; hand-milking etc. - 1.35

9. MILKING STALLS: wheat stacks; concrete cubicles; war-time - 3.33

10. COWMEN: roots; rent; hay; no rest; tractors; church - 4.32

11. CHURCHMEN: policeman playing organ; parsons and squires; attendance - 5.34

12. RABBITING STORY - 1.50

13. WEATHER SIGNS - 6.55

14. BIRDS - 6.40

15. WASPS AND BEES: nettles etc. - 2.20

16. CARNIVAL TIME: Mock-mayor; police; gipsies; Church Stanton "military" and Liverton "naval" bands; floats; dancing - 7.25

Recorded by John B Smith of Bristol, edited by Peter Kennedy and first published on Folktrax cassettes 1978.