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for a good reason ; the crops are so light, 

 both of straw and grain, that they have 

 not much to waste. 



The manner of reaping is cradling by 

 the scythe : and I have heard a great deal 

 said of the dexterity of that process ; and 

 the accounts are really astonishing. But 

 the cause is that the crops are so thin and 

 short, that many could not be reaped at all 

 by any other means, except at more ex- 

 pence than they are worth. But where 

 there is any thing like our crops in England, 

 they cannot cradle at all, but are compelled 

 to reap in the same manner as we do. 

 There are always reapers as well as cradlers 

 at the same time : and where there is any 

 a little stronger wheat, it is cut with the 

 sickle ; and some whole fields are thus 

 reaped : and the men are in general as good 

 reapers as in most parts of England, and 

 mowers too. It is said that a man will 

 cradle five acres per day (I believe three 

 acres are reckoned a day's work for a man): 

 but the cause is not the dexterity of the 



