THIS casual snapshot illustrates the labour-intensive nature of old-fashioned farming as a family rakes the last of their hay at Cackleshaw Farm, Oakworth, in the 1930s.

A diary kept by ten-year-old Francis Middlebrook in 1860 chronicles the haymaking season, which began in July in the Big Ing on his father's farm at Hainworth Shaw. "They was a great many people working in the hay" on August 19, and four days later the first cartload was led out of the Little Ing. The hay was all in by September 10.

"It has been a very wet hay time," Francis recorded, "it is eight weeks since we begun". That year there had been 13 wet Sundays in a row!

But by 1860 some farming methods were changing. At that year's Keighley Agricultural Show, in addition to "cattle, horses, pigs and sheep, all sorts of powltry of all kinds", young Francis noted "a deal of farming implements and a thrashing mashien with an engine of six horses powr."

The photograph has been supplied by Mrs Rosamund Mitchell, of Grange Farm, Oakworth.