Cultivation of Arable Land. Cutting and Harovfting Grain Crops. 2$ 



ground as it can be conveniently executed; but in others, eight, ten, fifteen, or 

 more inches of Hubble are left. 



There are advantages and inconveniences attending the cutting of grain crops, 

 both in the fcythe and fickle method. The firft has the advantage of being expe 

 ditious, and at the fame time of being capable of being executed with any degree 

 of clofenefs that may be required; but it leaves the produce in an irregular and 

 uneven fituation, which renders it not fo fit for being bound up into (heaves. And. 

 befides, where the corn is very ripe, it may be more liable to be fhed during the 

 operation, when performed in this manner. It is, however, often the practice, 

 where corn is cut by the fcythe, to have it bound up into iheaves, as well as to let 

 it remain in the fwaths until it is ready for the (lack ; but where the former is the 

 cafe, the grain is moftly mown inwards towards the crop, the cut grain reding againft 

 the (landing corn ; while, in the latter, it is cut outwards, and formed into fwaths 

 in the fame way as with grafs. 



Where the fickle is employed, the crop is placed with more exactnefs and regu-*, 

 larity, and of courfe is capable of being bound up with greater eafc and facility. 

 And it is probable that there is lefs lofs of grain incurred in the operation. The 

 bufinefs is, however, more tedious and difficult of execution in this way than by 

 the fcythe. 



It feems obvious therefore, that where labourers are fcarce the former method 

 mull be the moil advifable ; but where the contrary is the cafe, it may be the 

 mod advantageous to have recourfe to the latter. 



In regard to the height of cutting grain crops, as the Hubble which is left in 

 mowing or reaping them is not only nearly ufelefs to the land, but frequently fo 

 troublefome in the culture of it afterwards as to be under the neceflity of beino- 

 removed ; it would appear to be the beft and moll economical practice, in either 

 cafe, to have them cut as clofe as the nature of the ground will admit, By 

 thfe means the agricultor will not only have more litter at command for the 

 bedding of his yards, (lalls, and other places, and confequently an increafe of ma 

 nure, but have the bufinefs more expeditioufly performed, and with much lefs 

 wafte of the grain ; and at the fame time be freed from the trouble and expenfc 

 of removing the ftubble.* 



It has been fhown by careful experiment made with the view of afcertaining the 

 difference between high and low cutting, that there is much advantage in favour 

 of the latter mode.f In this trial, four ridges in the fame field, apparently 



* Donaldfon s Modern Agriculture, vol. II. and PerthflMre Agricultural Report. 



i Corrcfted Agricultural Report of the Weft Hiding of Yorkfliire. 

 VOL. II. OO 



