THE WHEAT CULTUKIST. 361 



left hand resting on the end of the band, when the right 

 hand releases its hold, and renews it again above the left 

 hand. Then the left-hand end of the band is bent over 

 toward the binder, while the other end is brought 

 around it and tucked beneath the band on the side 

 toward the binder. When sheaves are thus bound, the 

 left-hand end of the band forms a good handle for carry 

 ing the sheaf. 



LABORING DISADVANTAGEOUSLY. 



When a laborer is greatly fatigued by toiling in the 

 hot sunshine, every movement is a tax on his energies. 

 It is fatiguing to stoop down and pick up one s rake. 

 Most binders always throw their rake down on the 

 ground, every time they bind a sheaf. Of course, they 

 are obliged to spend the time and endure the fatigue 

 required to stoop and pick up their rake as often as 

 they make a sheaf. 



Now, if an active man will rake and bind one thou 

 sand sheaves in twelve hours, and if it consumes two 

 seconds of time to stoop and pick up his rake at each 

 sheaf, he must necessarily endure the fatigue of picking 

 one thousand rakes off the ground, which will consume 

 not less than thirty-three minutes, besides the useless 

 fatigue. During that length of time, he would be able 

 to rake and bind not less than fifty sheaves, which is 

 not a little saving with many hands. 



While a sheaf is being bound, the rake-handle should 

 always rest against the shoulder of the binder, as shown 

 by the last figure. This makes it easier work for him 

 than to lay down and pick up his rake at every sheaf. 

 As soon as a sheaf is bound, and the binder straightens 



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