The "Daylight saving time" (or "Middle European Summer Time" / "Summer Time" as we say in Germany) is indeed a British invention (from 1907). So please don't moan about the "bloody continentals" ...
But the British did not want it until WWI.
Germany and Austria were the first ones who practised it - following the "daylight saving time" idea. It was established to produce more bombs without using electical light in the factories ...
As Beevee already stated, Britain followed the same year!
The only reason to establish it was war production - so, there was no "summer time" between WWI and WWII ...
Farmers don't (didn't) care about clocks. They start working when it's neccessary / usefull. Industry workers care about clocks ...