THE HARVEST CAMP

Several members of the J.T.C. went on a Cadet P.T. Course, held in York during the sununer holidays, and we congratulate D. H. Denholm and Pryer on being members of the winning squad in the Inter-section Competition.

We also congratulate J. K. Andrew and J. D. Bulmer on being awarded State Bursaries in Science.

HARVEST CAMP.

Once again it was decided that the School should help the war effort by holding a Harvest Camp. So for six weeks during the holidays the rural peace of Coulton was disturbed by the invasion of some 5o boys bent on 6 weeks hard work.

Three days before the Camp started, the advance party arrived to find a pile of equipment provided by the North Riding Agricultural Committee. The weather, having been fine for the few weeks before the Camp started, immediately took a turn for the worse (despite the Headmaster's assurance that better weather had been ordered this year), and throughout the Camp good weather was conspicuous by its absence.

On account of the exceptionally fine weather of the previous months the harvest had already begun when the Camp started, and there was no difficulty in finding work for the boys. In fact, work could quite easily have been found for twice the number. Very little time was spent mowing thistles or leading manure, all hands being needed in the field.

The harvest this year was as good, if not better, than last year's, and on the fine days many weary hours were spent in the harvest field.

In the latter half of the Camp, many farmers began to lead their corn, a part of the harvesting with which very few had assisted in the previous year, because of the extremely late harvest. This tiring job provided a welcome change from the seemingly endless stooking to which we had grown accustomed.

The weather in the last week was even worse than that of the preceding weeks, although it had been thought that no worse weather could be experienced. For 4 days we were subjected to an almost continuous deluge, during which the occupants of one tent assured us that it was raining harder inside their tent than outside. However, towards the end of the week, the rain was less conspicuous and on one day so far forgot itself as not to appear at all.

On the final Saturday when Camp was struck, the weather began to pick up again and since then to the time of writing, there has been a longer spell of fine weather than any experienced throughout the Camp.

Finally, we must thank all the ladies who so willingly volunteered to cook for us. Mrs. Bainton, Mrs. and Miss Andrews, Mrs. Jackson and Miss Jackson, Mrs. and Miss Bulmer, and Mrs. and Miss Boulton, who so gallantly battled with the elements to feed us. Nor must we forget the many masters, who gave up their holidays and to whom must go the credit for keeping the Camp running smoothly. Last, but not least, we must thank the Headmaster and Mrs. Dronfield, who were ever ready to help and who gave up the whole of their holiday to be at the Camp.

SOME STATISTICS RELATING TO THE HARVEST CAMP. No. of boys who took part Total number of boy—weeks .. Total number of hours worked .. 7,693