Cultivation of Arable Land. Catting and Harvejling Grain Crops. 27&amp;lt;) 



ming of HorfeStubble Rake iifeful in providing Matcrialsfor THRESHING 

 Different Methods of by the Flail by tJie Machine Different Advan 

 tage* of Superiority of the latter Method Saving ofExpenceby- 

 Modes of proceeding in Rough chaffy Matter necejfary to be immediately 

 fcparated Quantity, thrcjhedby the Flail Should be.frejh threjhed when for 

 Fodder Grain jhoitld be immediately cleaned Machines proper for per 

 forming of Utility of fcrecning of. PRESERVATION of Grain fl hat nc- 

 ceffctry in Frequent Jiir ring beneficial Air, Light, and due Ventilation 

 Importance of Preferred in deep Wells and Pits Proper Granaries for 

 Methods ofConJlruclion ofGrainjhouldbeas little Jlered as poflible* 

 Much Loft by Advantage of bringing quickly to Market. 



AVING in the preceding feclion defcribed the methods of culture that appear 

 the moft advantageous and proper in the different forts of field-crops, we fhall now 

 confider the different modes of cutting, harvefting, and fecuring which are in life, 

 and that are the moft economical and belt adapted to thofe of the corn or other 

 kinds. 



Cutting and Harvefling Grain Crops. The times and methods of cutting down 

 grain crops, as well as thofe of harvefting and fecuring them, vary confiderably in 

 different diftriclis, and under different circumftances and kinds of corn. In fome, 

 as thofe of the midland and more fouthern counties, the harveft commences early, 

 as towards the latter end of July or beginning of Auguft; and the grain is chiefly 

 cut by means of fhort ftiff fcythes * conftrucled for the purpofe, with bows of fmall 

 flicks, or what are fometimes termed cradles, fixed to the handles in fuch a manner 

 as to depofit the heads or ears of the corn, as much as pofliblc, in one direction. 

 In this practice, the produceis frequently bound up into a fort of fheaves or bundles ; 

 while in cafes where the naked fcythe is made ufe of, the binding is but rarely, 

 attempted, the crops being merely raked together, and put in fmall heaps, till they 

 are in a proper Hate to be fee u red in the barn or ftack-yard. 



But in moft of the more northern diftricl:s, and in Scotland, where the cutting 

 of the grain begins at a much later period, as about the middle or latter part of 

 Auguft, the bufinefs is chiefly performed by means of the fickle or reaping-hook; 

 the handfuls, as foon as cut, being placed upon bands made by twifting a few of 



* The fcythes ufed for cutting grain crops fhould neither be fo long nor fo thin in the edges as thofe 

 employed in mowing grafs, as it js not necefiary to take fo great a breadth; and where the edg(: 

 of the fcythes are thin and fine they are liable to be broken by the ftifinefc of the ftraw. 



