Early in 1914 Cadell's application to join the army failed, which led him to spend several months working on a farm near Dumfries in an attempt to improve his fitness. He passed the medical board's examination later in the year and joined the Royal Scot's Guards.

In the present work his use of colour captures the effect of the sunlight on the rural scene, and is evidence of the influence of the Impressionists on his work when he was working in Paris during the early 20th century.