THE WHEAT CULTURIST. 357 



When closing up a machine gavel, or when raking a 

 swath, let the head of the rake be always kept as nearly- 

 parallel, as practicable, with the straw. It is far easier 

 to keep the butts of the straw even, when making a 

 gavel, than it is to even them with a rake, after the 

 gavel is made. 



Making Bands. 



It may seem trivial to dwell on the various manipu- 

 lations incident to harvesting grain; but laborers should 

 understand how to perform every operation with the 

 greatest possible ease, and in the shortest space of time. 

 Some men will make a band and bind a gavel, neatly, 

 before another man can make his band. Some binders 

 separate a handful of straw into two equal parts, and 

 tie the top ends together. But that is a slow and awk- 

 ward way. Others double the ears of grain over, and 

 catch them between the gavel and the band. But the 

 lock is liable to become loose, when the gavel is being 

 bound, or when the sheaves are handled. 



The mode adopted by all quick binders, and the most 

 expeditious way to make a band is, to take a small hand- 

 ful from the top of the gavel, and while separating it, 

 hold back other straws with the other hand. Then 

 grasp it with the left hand a little below the heads, and, 

 dividing the straw with the other hand, take the half of 

 the band at the right side, carry it quickly to the left 

 side of the other half, so that the left half will rest on 

 the back of the right hand. Now elevate the right 

 hand above the left, thus throwing the butt ends of the 

 branches of the band into the air above both hands. 

 Pass the portion of the band in the right hand around 

 all the heads of grain, and place the right thumb on 



