HARVESTING 



45 



edge to assist in keeping the grain well arranged. 

 Much skill is necessary in handling a cradle so 

 that the swath may be even and that the grain 

 may be left in bunches which can easily be bound 

 into bundles. Two or three acres makes a hard 







FIG. 24. Harvesting wheat with a cradle. 



day's work for one man. The most skillful 

 cradler is the harvest hero in communities where 

 the wheat cradle rules. The work of binding the 

 grain is often done by young boys or women. 

 The bunches are gathered and arranged into 



