Ch. XIV.] ON MARKETING. 203" 



According to the regulations of some markets, the corn intended for sale 

 must be carried there and pitched at the market-house, where the whole 

 quantity is exposed to the purchaser ; but it is more generally sold by 

 sample. The former mode is the fairest, as it precludes all dispute between 

 buyer and seller respecting the quality ; but is attended with the serious 

 inconvenience to the farmer, of compelling him to carry his corn to a certain 

 point, which maybe far distant from the residence of the purchaser to whom 

 it is to be delivered ; and in case it be not sold, he must be at the further 

 expense of either carrying it back, or storing it at the market. The sale by 

 sample puts him, on the other hand, to no further trouble than a ride to 

 the neighbouring town; but it not unfrequently leads to cavils respecting 

 the quality; for the farmer — though without any intention of passing off 

 an inferior article — yet always puts the best in his pocket, and this, after 

 being handled by several persons, becomes brighter and better in appear- 

 ance than that which remains in the sack: thus, sometimes giving the 

 buyer apparent reason to complain ; while occasionally, also, objections are 

 unfairly made when a fall has suddenly taken place in the price. 



With regard to the expense of reaping, thrashing, and marketing, the 

 following account of the charges attending an acre of wlieat in the district 

 by which London is surrounded, may afford a general idea of the cost on 

 other crops, namely, — 



s, d. 



Reaping, from ten to fourteen shillings, according to the bulk and state 



of the crop ; but say .... 



Carting and stacking .... 



Thatching ; (without charging for straw) , 

 Thrashing ; supposing 3 quarters per acre . . 



Winnowing ditto . . . . 



Binding straw for market . . 



Marketing . • . . . 



To these cliarges must also be added the expense of a supper, which, in 

 former times, was always given at the close of the work, by the larmer to 

 his labourers, in joyous celebration of the harv est- home ! A custom ori- 

 ginating in the religious and hospitable feelings of our forefathers, as 

 evincing their sense of thankfulness to the Almightv for the blessing with 

 which he had crowned their labours, as well as the kindliness of the master 

 towards his servants ; but the practice is now fast wearing away with the 

 fastidiousness of modern manners, and is more generally connnuted for 

 by the gift of a couple of shillings. 



The expenses on an acre of oats or barley will be a little less ; unless 

 the crop is very bulky or lodged, in which case it will be quite as much. 

 So much, however, depends upon the state of the croj) — wet or dry har- 

 vest — good or bad to thrash and winnow — distance from market — and 

 actual wages of labour — as to make it difficult to say to what the expense 

 may really amount ; it must also differ in various parts of the country. Even 

 after the harvest is completed, the season still has an effect on the pre- 

 paration of the corn for market; for, if fine, the grain will be easily sepa- 

 rated from the straw, but in damp and sunless weather it separates very 

 reluctantly from the chaft". Nothing but repealed thrashings will clear the 

 grain of wheat from the chaff; and it is well known that farmers have 

 such difficulty in clearing barley from the awns, that they are obliged to 

 have recourse to various tedious, and, in many cases, expensive means to 

 effect it, especially when it is of poor quality. 



