Cultivation of Arable Land. -^Cutting and Harvefling Grain Crops. &amp;lt;JS3 



If the machine mentioned above fhould be found on full trial to anfvvcr the 

 intention, this object will be attained. 



In refpcct to the proper period of cutting the different kinds of corn, it is beft 

 mown by the appearance of the crops, as when the grains are become plump and 

 \vell filled, and the grcennefs in a great meafure removed from the ft raw and ears 

 by the bleaching effects of the oxygen of the atmofphere, it will in general be 

 necefTary to begin the bufinefs of cutting. It is, however, the beft practice in mofi 

 cafes to begin before the crops are too ripe, efpecially when the fcythc is made 

 ufe of, as there will be lefs danger of wafte. And the bufinefs fhould always, if 

 pofllble, be performed when the crops are perfectly dry ; as when cut down 

 while wet, they are extremely liable to become mouldy, and injure the fampic. 

 Whether the fcythe or fickle be made ufe of in cutting grain crops, it is probably 

 the moft judicious and fafe practice to bind the produce up into fheaves. It has 

 been remarked by an experienced agricultor, that there are many advantages 

 refulting from it : the wafte of grain is much lefs ; the crop is more quickly placed 

 out of danger from the weather ; the labour of carrying, .houfing, or ftacking, is 

 greatly lefTened ; the ftraw, in wet feafons, is much better for the purpofcs of 

 cattle-fodder, and the grain preferves its colour far better. On the whole, it is 

 likewife concluded that the quantity of labour is rather diminimed than increafed : 

 befides, the bufinefs of threfhing, efpecially where the work is performed by the ma 

 chine, is thus rendered much more eafy and expeditious.* 



The loofe method of harvefting, if practifed at all, can only be employed in the 

 more fouthern diftricts, where the harveft commences at an early period, 

 and where the climate is mild, regular, and fteady ;| as there muft under 

 other circumftances be much danger from the crops being fo fully expofed to the 

 weather. 



In the binding of grain crops, middling- fized fhcaves are conftantly to be pre 

 ferred to thofe that are very large, as there is not only lefs danger of their becoming 

 mouldy within, but they are more eafily penetrated by the winds and dried by the 

 fun. In tying the bands, care fhould be taken that they do not flip too much 

 towards the ear ends of the corn ; and that they be made fufficiently tight for the 

 ftraw not to flide through them during the time of fetting them up in the field, 

 conveying them to the barn or ftack, or in the operation of ftacking ; as, where 

 this is not properly attended to by the workmen, there is often much trouble and 

 inconvenience afterwards from the fheaves falling afunder. 



Marftiall s Rural Economy of Yorkshire. f Modern Agriculture, vol. I/.. 



OO 2 



