Swedes (from Wikimedia)
Tuesday
28th May 1918: Farmer John Dancer of Leighton Buzzard has
appeared today at the Petty Sessions charged with permitting foodstuffs to be
wasted. Proceedings were taken at the direction of the Ministry of Food. The
Beds War Agricultural Executive Committee arranged a routine inspection of Mr
Dancer’s farm at Heath and Reach on March 12th, and found a very large quantity
of swede turnips lying about in fifteen small heaps, each containing about 1½
cwt of the vegetables. Mr. Dancer stated that he had pulled the turnips last
November and covered them with leaves, but had not put any earth on them. Many
were found to be frost bitten, and at least half were useless as food for
either man or beast. Two other witnesses confirmed the poor state of the
turnips, with one in no doubt that it was “simply the result of sheer
carelessness”.
Mr. Dancer said he took the
farm ten years ago and it was managed by his son William. He had heard that
turnips kept better in small quantities and were not affected by cold or wet.
Both he and his son thought the best way to preserve them was to cover them
with leaves. However, another farmer, John Hopkins, stated that the best way to
keep swedes was to cover them with dirt. Two other witnesses spoke on Mr.
Dancer’s behalf. Walter Mills said he had bought some of Dancer’s turnips to
feed to his pigs and none were bad. Another farmer, Arthur Syres, had also
bought some of the swedes and their condition was “very fair for the time of
the year”. After some consideration the Bench found Mr. Dancer guilty and
imposed a £5 fine.
Source:
Luton News, 30th May 1918
