48 AGRICULTURE IN THE 



frequent mention in my accounts, especially in Cambridgeshire 

 and the Eastern Counties. 



Rye is the first grain to ripen, and should be cut without 

 delay, as it readily sheds its seed, if the reaping be delayed. 

 It should be cut with a sickle, at least fourteen inches above 

 the ground, and if it be free from weeds, can be soon carried 

 in fine weather. The next crop is maslin, i.e. wheat and rye 

 mixed. Here the wheat is a little later than the rye, but if 

 the rye be ripe, we are assured that the wheat will harden in 

 the stack. Then comes wheat, to be reaped in the same way 

 as rye, but to be left longer out, at least two days, for the 

 wind is sure to dry or harden it. The practice, commenced 

 in many counties, of mowing wheat is to be condemned. It 

 makes the wheat foul, and full of weeds. 



Barley is the most difficult of crops to house. It ripens 

 suddenly, and must be mown down at once. But it must be 

 thoroughly dry before it is housed, or it will rapidly deteriorate. 

 It is sometimes reaped, but it should be always mown, and 

 close to the ground, and the land should be raked after the 

 corn is cocked. The greatest difficulty about oats is the un- 

 certainty of the time at which they may ripen, and the cer- 

 tainty of loss if the corn is not cut when it is ripe, as it begins 

 to shed at once. The ripeness of pulse is known by the black- 

 ening of the straw. If you need wheat and rye stubble for 

 thatching, mow it at once ; if not, leave it as manure. 



If you have seed corn to sell, thrash at once. You may 

 need too some grain for family use, and for Christmas pur- 

 chases. But corn is always cheapest from Michaelmas to 

 Christmas, after which it is sure to rise in price. Malt such 

 barley as you determine to use for this purpose between 

 Michaelmas and Candlemas. The process of making malt 

 was long a custom with farmers, and I believe that till com- 

 paratively modern times, a malt-kiln was an appurtenant to 

 most large farms. In Lent get your seed barley ready, ' it 

 ever is at the dearest reckoning of any grain whatever, 

 especially if it be good and clean.' The highest price of 



