10.8.39.

Rain during much of the day. Cut side-shoots out of tomatoes (this should have been done much earlier), began preparing another patch for greens, put up another coops for the ducks, as the 7 of them can hardly crowd into one coop now. Note that fresh goat manure when piled sets up a certain amount of heat, though seemingly not as much as horse manure.
10 eggs (2 small).

10.8.39

Foreign and General

1. Franco assumes more or less full powers of dictator. Daily Telegraph [a]

2. The King inspects Reserve Fleet of 133 warships. Daily Telegraph [b]

Social

1. Complaints (not very important) at militia camp in Devon reveal that reservists in large numbers have been called up as instructors. Daily Telegraph [c]

2. 14 C.Os tried by tribunals, not harshly treated but work of national importance insisted on. Questions much as in great war.° No report of C.Os on other than religious-moral grounds. Secretary of S. Wales Miners’ Federation on the tribunal. Daily Telegraph [d]

3. Anti-Hitler jokes in “Eggs”. Eggs, 8.8.39 [1]

4. Interior lamps of London buses now fitted with removable blue cowls for use in air-raids. Daily Telegraph, 9.8.39 [e]

Party Politics

1. After 6 weeks of no gov.t, Dutch national gov.t formed of several parties including two social-democrats. Daily Telegraph [f]

2. Reported that at September conference I.L.P. National Council will advocate unconditional affiliation to L.P. Daily Telegraph [g]

[a] [b] [c] [d] [e] [f] [g]

[1] Eggs, the official organ of the Scientific Poultry Breeders’ Association, as a weekly founded in 1919. Orwell had been corresponding with the Association about feed for his hens around 26-27 July 1939. Peter Davison

9.8.39.

Some rain[1] in the evening, otherwise warm, but overcast. Planted out 60 broccoli, rather late & all rather leggy & unpromising, but hope they may take. Impossible to get any kale etc., for which of course it is rather late.
10 eggs (2 small). Sold 30 @ 2/6 score.

[1] Orwell first wrote ‘a few spots of rain’. Peter Davison

8.8.39.

Some rain & thunder, but most of day fairly fine though not hot. Goats’ milk is badly off, less than a quart from the two, no doubt owing to the several days without grazing. Evenings now drawing in noticeably.
12 eggs (3 small).

8.8.39.

Foreign & General
1. Chinese dollar has now dropped below 4d. Daily Telegraph [a]
2. Danzig senate° appears to have climbed down in dispute over Polish customs officials. Daily Telegraph [b]
3. Again reported that a large number of Asturian soldiers are still holding out in the mountains. Daily Telegraph [c]
Social
1. Complete column given in D. Tel. To “The Link”, besides extra piece on front page. Statement by organizers that they are not propaganda agents etc. Statement that Prof. Laurie received £150 for “The Case for Germany” from German publishing firm, British firms having refused to publish the book which was “pro-German”. Statement that Leeds branch of “the° Link” was voluntarily dissolved as organizers considered the German end was under Nazi control. Daily Telegraph [d]
2. D.Tel gives a column (in news section) to summarizing “Germany’s War Chances”, the Gollancz book translated from the Hungarian, for publication of which the author is being persecuted in Hungary. Daily Telegraph [e]
Miscellaneous
1. Death of Leonard Merrick[1] makes front page (just) of D.Tel. Daily Telegraph [f]

[a] [b] [c] [d] [e] [f]

[1] Leonard Merrick (1864-1939), born Miller, was a novelist, now almost forgotten, but in 1918 a collected edition of his novels was published in which each was introduced by a distinguished author. He was described by Sir James Barrie as ‘the novelist’s novelist,’ and William Dean Howells put him next in stature to Jane Austen. The Position of Peggy Harper (1911) was to be reissued in the Century Library series, and Orwell wrote an introduction to it. A page proof survives, dated 1948, though Orwell probably wrote the introduction in 1945; see Complete Works, 2957. The volume was never issued. See Crick, 500. Peter Davison

7.8.39.

Finer. In the morning rather cold & a little rain, afternoon overcast & warm. Finished preparing ground for winter greens. Put slugs in prepared box to test what kind of foodstuffs they go after most. Yesterday found dead newt in the road, so they must be leaving the water now. A certain number of this year’s frogs about, about the size of runner beans.
9 eggs (1 small).

7.8.39.

Social
1. “Soc. Corresp.” repeats complaints about food etc. in militia camps with implication that the men are being treated rough more or less willfully. Socialist Correspondence
2. 57 people reported shot in connection with recent political murders in Madrid (number of people murdered was apparently 3). Daily Telegraph [a]
Party Politics
1. Members of the P.S.O.P. arrested in France in connection with anti-war activities. C.P. making accusations of Nazi agency etc. Socialist Correspondence; The Week, 2.8.39
2. Bela Kun again reported shot (from Vienna source this time). Daily Telegraph [b]
3. Adm.l Sir Barry Domville° chairman of “The Link”, describes statement of Hoare & Mandler as a lie & hopes they will repeat it outside Parliament. Daily Telegraph [c]

[a] [b] [c]

6.8.39.

Foreign & General
1. Purge of Sudeten leaders taking place, evidently as result of Czech pressure & as a prelude to milder methods. Sunday Times [a]
2. Polish gov.t evidently now ready to allow Russians to use Polish air bases. Sunday Times [b]
3. S. Express considers Franco has definitely come down on the side of the Axis, but hints that French & Swiss banks who have hitherto lent him £5 m. are putting pressure on him by withholding further loans. [c]
Social
1. Evidently there has been trouble about food in the militia. Number of first draft who declared themselves conscientious objectors stated at 2%. Sunday Times [d]
2. Earnings throughout life from cabinet posts etc. of various politicians estimated by Peter Howard thus: Runciman £71, Lloyd George £94, Baldwin £70, Hoare £79, Simon £78, Churchill £92 (all in thousands). Sunday Express [e]
Party Politics
1. Peter Howard considers Sir A. Wilson is becoming unpopular in Hitchin Div.n owing to pro-German sentiments.[1] Sunday Express [e]
[1] “Herts Pictorial” (15.8.39) repeats this without comment. [Orwell’s note]
2. Mosley’s Earls Court Stadium meeting said to have been attended by 25, 000. M. said to have lost some of his East End working-class support but gained following among small business men etc. Left Forum, August
3. “The Link” said to be actively pro-Nazi & also recommended by P.P.U. Left Forum, August
4. Evidently the French spy scandals are being officially hushed up to some extent. La Rocque asks Daladier to pass decree – law making receipt of foreign money for other than commercial purposes a criminal offence. Observer [f]
5. Sunday Express prints friendly article about Japan (gossip article). Sunday Express [g]

[a] [b] [c] [d] [e] [f] [g]

6.8.39.

No rain, fairly warm. The big crab tree in the lane has failed to produce any apples, but found others with fruit. Blackberries still only in flower. Hazel nuts still solid inside. Inne’s cows due to calve shortly.
Waterhens still have quite small chicks. Many young rabbits. Found dead cat in lane. Notice that hens will eat the large black slugs. Forgot to mention that on Thursday saw what I think must have been a hawfinch. Greenfinches in the hen run from time to time, but goldfinches uncommon here.
11 eggs (3 small)

5.8.39.

Raining almost continuously until about 6.30pm. Parts of the day rain extremely heavy. Baldock high street said to have been flooded. Marrows swelling very rapidly. French & runner beans 3” or 4” long. Apples growing very fast.
Cylinder of calor gas, started 7.7.39, gave out yesterday (27 days). Started new cylinder today.
9 eggs (2 small). Sold 30 @2/6 score. Total this week: 77 of which 15 small.