The land in this part of Leicestershire represents the familiar 'rolling hills' of the 'typical' English landscape. This means that most of the farms practice a mixed agriculture.

On the arable side, the principal crops are Wheat, Barley and Sugar Beet. Other cash crops might include Linseed, Oil Seed Rape, Maize and occasionally, Peas or Potatoes.

In the 1940's, artificial fertilisers did not exist and it was important to rotate the planting of crops in order to 'rest' the soil for one year in three. Often, a bean crop was sown because this crop will put Nitrogen back into the soil.

[John Gresham on crop rotation]

It was normal to put the animal manure back onto the land but this does not totally restore the nutrient levels that a high yielding crop will take out. Hence yields (by today's standards) would now be considered to have been low and therefore, unacceptable.

[Geoffrey Goodson on fertilisers]

The introduction of inorganic fertilisers and accurate soil- testing revolutionised arable farming and in many cases, average crop yields have doubled…

A modern fertiliser spreader: the granular fertiliser is carried in the hopper.These may carry up to 1500kg.

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