Contrasting Technologies

This is a John Deere 6320. It's at the cutting edge of modern croft farming, a 95 horsepower, 4.5 litre, 4 cylinder beast of a machine which weighs in at 10,000lb and can cut a hayfield in less time than it takes you to sneeze. It has a cab with pneumatic suspension, climate control, air seat, a cooler box and CD, and driving it must be a little like taking off in a Boeing 747.

In the next field is a Massey-Ferguson 35, the cutting-edge of crofting technology in the early 1960s. It produces 37 horsepower from an engine which starts on petrol but is then switched to kerosene (paraffin). There is no cab, so when it rains the driver gets wet, and a very hard seat, but it does have a steering wheel and gear shift.

Sadly, on the day The Diary took her picture, she had broken down. For a 60-year old, this is to be expected - The Diary has the same problem quite frequently - but she was quickly repaired where she stood in the field.

The Diary wonders if the John Deere will still be going in 60 years time.