“A few notes on the “focus” of the various pictures will perhaps interest the student, as this is just now a vexed question….”Barley Harvest,” barley and distance out of focus.” ⎯ P.H. Emerson, Sept., 1889, To The Student 

“On our return to the barley-field we determined to take a plate during one of the short rests so frequent in this hard labour. Here one man is honing his scythe, while another, his face streaming with perspiration, has taken off his hat with which to fan himself, and now stretches forth his hand to his mate, who, leaving his rake in the field, has brought the bottle of “home-brewed” from which they will all quench their thirst.

Through the hot day they will work under the broiling summer sun until 4.30 P.M., when they rest and have tea, or “fourses,” as it is now locally called, its name formerly being ” beavers.” After half an hour’s grace they again fall to, and work hard till seven in the evening, when it is a common sight to meet gangs of these tired labourers going home with scythes and rakes, empty bottles and baskets, and probably a few rabbits killed that day in the fields.” ⎯ P.H. Emerson, Pictures of East Anglian Life, p. 77