Posted by Magnus Smith on March 09, 2014 at 15:04:21 user Magnus.
My brother has just given me a topic for Tarboard. It's a classic case of extrapolating backstory from the most meagre of details. I hope you like it, but I am afraid I am missing some supporting evidence....
We know that Dixon's farm is the only one to keep geese. It is mentioned in a couple of the books. We also know that Mr Dixon is a man of few words.
Apparently, there is an ancient English law that dictates how income is divided between a farmer and his wife, when they both do the work of the farm. Money made from the sale of geese (that specific bird) goes to the wife only.
Therefore it is said that you will only see geese on a farm where "the woman wears the trousers", since no man would choose geese of his own accord. Especially given the filthy mess they make.
[I regret I have no supporting evidence for this farming fact. My brother read it somewhere recently, but I cannot find any website which mentions it. Has anyone else heard of such a thing?]
Can we infer a lot more about Mrs Dixon's character now? Was this a little joke Ransome put in for the benefit of adult readers? Can we contrast with Mrs Tyson and Mrs Swainson?! And which Lakeland farm had geese in real life?!