346 AWAKENING OF ENGLAND. 



cannot compete against the large farmer with 

 his self-binder. We cannot go back to the 

 sickle and the flail. To work with economy 

 nowadays we must call in the self-binder with 

 its four horses in the corn - field, and the 

 thrashing machine in the stackyard. 



It should be reahsed how little a farmer 

 uses his most expensive machinery during the 

 whole of the year. In this he is placed at a 

 great disadvantage with the ordinary factory 

 owner, who considers it a hardship if his engine 

 ceases running for one day. How little are 

 the mowing machine and the self-binder used 

 during the year on a moderate - sized farm ! 

 Possibly for two weeks ; then for fifty long 

 weeks they will lie idle, probably rusting and 

 deteriorating in some damp, open shed, or 

 under a waggon-cloth. 



But every one will be wanting to use these 

 machines at the same time, remarks the cavil- 

 ling wiseacre. If that be so, then it only 

 remains to ballot as they do in Ireland with 

 their large co-operative machines which tour 

 from farm to farm ; even as it is, the small 

 farmer always has to wait the convenience of 

 the owner of the machine when he hires the 

 use of one. 



