348 THE WHEAT CULTURIST. 



The question is frequently asked why a cradle scythe 

 is made broader from the back to the cutting edge, than 

 a grass scythe ? The object of this is twofold. The 

 first is to support the grain after it is cut off; ,nd sec- 

 ond, to furnish ample room for the straw to slide back 

 from the cutting edge, against the fingers, after it has 

 been cut off. If a scythe, no wider than a grass scythe, 

 is attached to a cradle, as soon as the space from the 

 fingers to the cutting edge is filled with straw, the 

 scythe cannot cut off any more straw ; therefore, as the 

 cradle is " full," it must slide over the rest of the clip. 



If the fingers do not correspond with the curve of the 

 scythe, a cradle will not work well, even if the scythe 

 is made according to the most perfect pattern. Fig. 55 

 represents a scythe of the same form as Fig. 54. The 

 object of it is to show the relative length and curvature 

 of the first finger of the cradle, when compared with 

 the form of the scythe. The inside of the finger should 



FIG. 55. Best form and position of lower finger. 



extend at least two inches beyond the back of the scythe ; 

 and it is best to have the finger from one to two inches 

 shorter than the scythe. The small end should stand 

 over the point of the scythe, as represented in the 

 figure, and be from one to two inches above the blade 

 at the point. If the first finger rests hard on the scythe, 

 it sometimes prevents the grain discharging freely when 



