448 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



done in Poland as a part of wheat farming. The mixture 

 of the dung with the fine earth in the present mode raises 

 a bed for grass seeds that is not equalled in any other 

 way, and the heavy roll presses all matters together with 

 the wheat plants almost invisible among the raised and 

 compressed earth of the surface. The growth is quick 

 and rapid from this bed of favourable composition, and 

 surprises every observation and experience ; the grass 

 seeds are delighted in the matrix of a most intimate 

 comminution of soil that is so essential to their na- 

 ture, and which is not obtained from the stale surface 

 of autumn-sown wheat, and manured at that time. 

 This advantage to the grass seeds is very large, and 

 along with the superior benefit to the wheat crop, con- 

 stitutes a mode of applying farm-yard dung that is much 

 beyond the value of the common way during late sum- 

 mer or early autumn, which prevents the full action of 

 the manure, by denying the opportunities that are ne- 

 cessary for the development of its power. The cold of 

 winter follows the winter application, the increasing 

 warmth of the returning sun attends the use of the 

 dung in the early spring, and these two very different 

 elements confer a power of the utmost value and effi- 

 cacy. It must be studied that all applications t.f 

 manures are made under the best known circumstances 

 to develope their power and promote their action. 



It has happened to the writer of this essay to have had 

 a very extensive and largely varied experience in practi- 

 cal farming, both on turnip lands and clay soils ; and the 



length of the practice gave many opportunities of ob- 

 servation and experience. The prepared heap of farm- 

 yard dung having failed to complete the manuring of a 

 field of clay fallow in the end of August, a quantity of 

 fresh dung from the stable door was applied to cover 

 the remnant of the ground, and it was strawy and rough 

 beyond the power of being covered by the plough, con- 

 sisting of dry straws and dry fecas of the horse. 

 The dung lay exposed till October, when the land was 

 seed-furrowed, and sown with wheat; the matters 

 were better covered than by the summer furrow, 

 while the harrowing pulled into pieces and spread the 

 dung over the surface. In winter the ground was pretty 

 well covered with the fragments of dung, among which 

 the wheat soon evinced a superiority that continued very 

 visible till harvest, and the crop was larger and thicker 

 on the ground. The grass seed being sown in April, 

 the advantages were derived that have been mentioned, 

 as arising from laying the dung on the surface of the 

 ground. This casual experience confirmed the mode 

 now recommended, of applying farm-yard dung, and it 

 destroyed in no small degree the theory of damage to 

 farm-yard dung by evaporation from exposure. This 

 theory has been very justly doubted, though conviction 

 requires a length of time to be entertained. There is 

 also called into question the fermentation of dung in 

 heaps, and the fresh condition showed greater, -at least 

 equal results. J. D. 



THE SICKLE, THE SCYTHE, THE REAPING MACHINE. 



In making a comparison between cutting grain by the 

 sickle and by the reaping machine, we have been in the habit 

 of regarding it chiefly as a question of expense ; now, however, 

 we are forced to!lcok at it in another light : we must view it 

 more as a question of expediency acd of necessity. Our corn 

 must be cut down and harvested — we cannot get sufficient 

 hands to do it for love or money — what means must we adopt 

 to attain our object ? It is calculated that three scjthemen, 

 with their followers, will, on an average, cut, bind, and stock 

 4| imperial acres in the day. To perform the same work with 

 the sickle eighteen people will be required, with the Hainanlt 

 scythe twelve, and with the rcapnig machine seven. Now 

 these people are distributed in the following manner : — 



Sickle .. .. 

 Scythe . . . . 

 Hainault scythe. . 

 Keapina; machine 



As the greatest number of hands is required for the sickle, it 

 is evident that a general deficiency will be felt liy those most 

 who use it, while a deficiency in the number of men usually 

 employed as scythemen and baudsters will be felt by those most 



who use the scythe. But of the two there is no doubt that 

 emigration at present will cause the greatest inconvenience to 

 the former; for, though there may be a deficiency in men for 

 bandsters, this evil can be in some measure remedied by teach- 

 ing others to do it, and by farmers being satisfied in the mean- 

 time with an inferior class of work. We would, therefore, ad- 

 vise all whose crops are not too much lodged or twisted to 

 endeavour to reduce their harvest expenses by using the 

 scythe, which will, perhaps, at the same time, relieve them of 

 no little anxiety if people are scarce, and reduce the risk of 

 having a large breadth of crop ready to be cut, and no person 

 to do it. 



Of all the diflferent modes of reaping, however, the greatest 

 saving of hands is obtained from the use of the reaping ma- 

 chine. It is true we cannot expect to have all our crop cut 

 by it iu its present state, but by the use of it and the scythe 

 very few more people than those ordinarily employed on the 

 farm would be required during harvest, which every farmer 

 must admit would be a great advantage. The reasons for the 

 use of such machines are — 1st, All our corn crops come to 

 maturity at present neatly at the same time; 2nd, Our 

 country labourers are reduced iu number ; 3rd, There is now 

 a much greater quantity of corn to cut down ; 4th, Harvest- 

 work has become more expensive." A committee appointed 

 by the Central Society of AgricuUure of the Seine- Inferieure 

 to report on the subject, gave it as their verdict that " the 

 automaton machine of Aitkeu and Wright was preferable to 

 all other reaping machines."-^ /<6/vV/jff7 from tJie JoiiriwI of 

 AciricuUnrp. 



