Cultivation cf Arable Land. Cutting and HarVefting Grain Crops, 



Wheat and rye crops, as being moftly free from weeds and having the ft raw 

 but little imbued with moilture, will only require to be expofed to the influence of 

 the fun and air for a fhort time, as a few days, in order to render the grain plump, 

 ilippery, and a good fample. Much may be effected in this way, by fpreading 

 out and ^xpofing t^je grips, handfuls, or any fmall portions of the crops, as they 

 are cut down, to th-e full action of fuch powers, turning them occafionally, and 

 carefully binding them up before the evening dews fall upon them. A very little 

 rain is capable of making thefe crops grow, and thereby injuring the value of the 

 grain. It is generally the practice in thefe cafes to fet the fheaves up during the 

 funny parts of the day on their root ends, putting them into hat locks during the 

 night. In this way they foon become fit for the barn or flack. 



But in barley and oat crops as well as thofe of the pulfe kind, a much longer 

 time is requifite in the field to prepare them for being put up either in the barn or 

 the fhck. The neceiTary length of time will depend much upon the cleannefs of 

 the crops from any weedy or grafTy matters. After being cut, they muft remain, 

 according to the manner in which the operation has been performed, for fuch a 

 length of time in the field as is fufficient to render the ftems of the grain, as well 

 as any grafly material they may contain, in fuch a ftatc of drynefs, as that when 

 clofely Hacked up they will take on little or no heat ; as, where the contrary is the 

 cafe, the grain is liable to be fpoiled by becoming mow burnt, or greatly injured in 

 the colour of the fample. Oats take much lefs harm in the field than any other 

 fort of grain. 



Where the grain is reaped by the fickle, the produce is often placed loofely upon 

 the bands in the day, and tied up into fheaves towards night, being then fet up into 

 batlocks. Thefe, when the weather is fine, efpecially if the feafon be wet, are ex 

 pofed to the action of the fun and air by taking off the hood, or cap-fheaves, in the 

 day time, carefully replacing them as the evening approaches. In bad weather the 

 root ends of the fheaves are likewife turned up towards the fun. This practice 

 when properly executed, fo as that the fun and air may enter, is highly beneficial, and 

 ihould not be neglected. Mr. Young alfo mentions a method that may in fome 

 fituations be practifed with advantage on the wheat crops, which is that of covering 

 the (hocks with mats. It is faid to be employed in the neighbourhood of Sandwich 

 and Dover with fuch benefit in improving the fample, that the bakers in the latter 

 place give a decided preference to grain that has been managed in this way. 



And in mowing corn crops, where they are afterwards bound into fheaves, a fimilar 

 inethod is- purfued in bringing them into a proper condition for being piled up in 

 Hacks. In executing the bufinefs it is ufual for the mower to be followed by a 



