58 Hints for the approaching Harvest. 
In Switzerland, however, by a very simple contrivance the ob- 
jections to the scythe have been completely obviated. Each 
mower is accompanied by a person bearing a light straight long 
pole, whose business it is to press the pole in a horizontal position 
against the stems of the corn which are to be cut, so as to bend 
the ears considerably away from the mower, and leave him a full, 
fair, stroke at the aggregated stems. The pole is best made of 
deal, much about the thickness of the handle of a sweeping-brush, 
and in Switzerland is commonly about nine feet in length; but 
this must be cetermined by the nature of the scythe used*, or 
rather by the sweep or extent of the stroke: for the person who 
bears the pole must be out of the reach of all danger from the 
scythe, and at the same time there must be sufficient length of 
pole left to press against the whole breadth or bench of standing 
corn which the mower can compass with his scythe. The per- 
son who bears the pole, commonly a lad, stands with his face to- 
wards the mower, a little to the left of his line of progression, and 
moves backwards as the other advances. The pole may be held 
as the bearer finds most convenient ; and steadied, either against 
his body, or his thigh, according to his height: but care must be 
taken that it is held nearly horizontally, and the pole should press 
on the standing corn, from about six inches to a foot below the 
ears, so as to give a sloping direction, away from the mower, to 
the whole quantity likely to be cut at one stroke. The ears which 
are thus pressed back never straggle, either during or after the 
stroke, but slide along the pole; which, if properly held, keeps 
them quite even, and they will fall one way, smoothly and regu- 
larly. 
Should the corn have been beaten down by rain or storm, the 
scythe cannot certainly be used with the same advantage as if it 
stands erect and healthy; the sickle will answer best under such 
circumstances. The Swiss, however, are so careful about their 
crops, that when fallen, they raise them, in part, by fastening the 
stems together, and tying them in a direction contrary to that'in 
which they have fallen. Sometimes they plant stakes through 
* The scythes commonly used in Switzerland have light, short blades, 
and I believe are principally of German manufacture. The handles are 
much bent; and the mower stands tolerably upright. The sweep is not very, 
great. But the Swiss are admirable mowers: I have seen patches of grass 
on the Alps, growing under ledges of rock where no cattle could climb, cut 
as close and smooth as a dexterous Haglish gardener could shave a grass 
plot. They put an exquisite edge on their scythes by hammering them out 
on little anvils kept for the purpose, instead of thinning the edge by a coarse 
stone as our mowers do; and their scythes by this treatment consequently _ 
last much longer. The operation is performed once in a day or two; and 
the edge is afterwards still further sharpened by a sort of strap or prepared 
board, finer than ours. 
the 
