16 MARCH 1901, Page 15

A HUMAN SUN-DIAL. [To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR.']

Sin,—When I was living in Essex thirty or forty years ago, the labourers, few of whom had watches, used to make of themselves the gnomon of a sun-dial in the following primi- tive fashion. The furrows of the fields were always ploughed north and south as far as possible, to allow of the sun's rays getting between the drilled rows of corn or root. When, therefore, their own shadows fell full along the furrows, they used to strike Off work and go to dinner.—I am, Sir; W. F. HERBERT. 10 Burns Avenue, Nottingham.