VIII 1 ENGLISH STRAW PLAT. 141 



would sow i twelfth part of the acre every week from 

 the first week in March to the last week in May. If I 

 relied partly upon winter wheat, I would sow some 

 every month, from the latter end of Sejptember to 

 March. If I employed the two sorts of wheat, or 

 indeed if I employed only the spring wheat, the 

 TRITICUM ^ESTIVUM, I should have some wheat fit to 

 cut in June, and some not fit to cut till September. 

 I should be sure to have a fair chance as to the 

 weather. And, in short, it would be next to impos- 

 sible for me to fail of securing a considerable part 

 of my crop. I beg the reader's particular attention 

 to the contents of this paragraph. 



229. MANNER OF CUTTING THE WHEAT. 

 It is cut by a little reap-hook, close to the ground as 

 possible. It is then tied in little sheaves, with two 

 pieces of string, one near the butt, and the other 

 about half-way up. This little bundle or sheaf ought 

 to be six inches through at the butt, and no more. It 

 ought not to be tied too tightly, lest the scalding 

 should not be perfect. 



230. MANNER OF BLEACHING. The little 

 sheaves mentioned in the last paragraph are carried 

 to a brewing mash, vat, or other tub. You must not 

 put them into the tub in too large a quantity, lest 

 the water get chilled before it get to the bottom. Pour 

 on scalding water till you cover the whole of the little 

 sheaves, and let the water be a foot above the top 

 sheaves. When the sheaves have remained thus a 

 full quarter of an hour, take them out with a prong, 

 lay them in a clothes-basket, or upon a hurdle, ana 

 carry them to the ground where the bleaching is to 

 be finished. This should be, if possible, a piece of 

 grass land, where the grass is very short. Take the 

 sheaves, and lay some of them along in a row; untie 

 them, and lay the straw along in that row as thin as 

 it can possibly be laid. If it were possible, no one 

 straw ought to have another lying upon it, or across it. 

 If Inn sue r je clear, it will require to lie twenty-four 

 hours Jirs, then to be turned, and lie twenty-four ' 

 G the other side. If the sun be not very clear, 



