136 NOTES ON FIELDS AND CATTLE. 



with pikes and rakes, the swathe left by the mowers, 

 which is to lie so exposed to the sun's rays until 

 noon, or at least until it looks dry enough for the 

 tedding-machine to commence. Much depends upon 

 the sun and the thickness of the crop. If you have a 

 mowing-machine you are enviable ; you will run no 

 risk of being disappointed by a gang's appearing in 

 fewer numbers than you bargained for, and you will 

 be so far better off that, when the hour of nine A.M. 

 arrives, you will not want the spare hands to spread, 

 the crop being all left abroad by the machine, so that 

 the workpeople can go on with the turnip-field for 

 the half-day. 



Keep the mowing-machine at work, changing 

 horses every two and a half to three hours, and 

 occasionally the driver. In the afternoon you make 

 into rolls and cock, as stated before : to be syste- 

 matic, however, on the Middlesex plan, which, being 

 undoubtedly the best, we have always adopted : 



1st Day. — The mowing having begun at three A.M., 

 tedd twice over, if possible, during the day all cut 

 before nine A.M. ; towards sunset making it into sum- 

 mer-cocks, to be left until morning in that shape. 



2nd Day. — As soon as the dew is off the open 

 space shake out (if in swathe), and tedd all mown 

 after nine A.M. yesterday and before nine A.M. to- 

 day. Then with their rakes and pikes let all hands 

 get under weigh along the summer-cocks. Taking 

 every six rows, they are to throw them together on 

 to the space occupied previously by four, so that 

 when all the cocks are spread, the field, instead of 

 being dotted over with small heaps, will be all 



