THE WHEAT CULTURIST. 



347 



along satisfactorily, without a good grain cradle ; and it 

 is important for a laborer to know what constitutes a 

 good cradle, how to put it in good order, and how to use 

 it, so as to cut grain and lay it in a swath in a neat and 

 workmanlike manner. 



The most correct form of a cradle scythe is a point 

 which should be thoroughly understood and appreciated, 

 whether one can obtain a scythe of the desired form 

 or not. 



Fig. 54. — The best form of Cradle Scythe. 



A very straight scj^the is quite as objectionable as one 

 that lias too much curvature. When it is too straight 

 on the cutting edge, it will cut too squarely across the 

 standing straws ; whereas the cut should be made in a 

 drawing or sliding manner. If the scythe be straight 

 on the edge, the fingers must of necessity be correspond 

 ingly straight. The illustration herewith given, Fig. 

 54, represents a cradle scythe of a good form. It will 

 be seen that the cutting edge from a to b, about one 

 foot in length, is a part of the arc of one circle ; and the 

 other part, from b to c, is the arc of another circle of the 

 same size, but in a different position. 



It may be seen by measuring, that these circles are 

 about ten feet in diameter, and that the distance from 

 d, in the dotted line, to e, when a scythe is four feet 

 long, is about two and a half inches. A cradle scythe 

 of this shape works well, if it is properly hung on the 

 snath, and the cutting edge kept in order. 



