206 BRITISH HUSBANDRY. [Ch.XlV. 



In Russia, and many other parts of the north of Europe, the plan is very 

 generally adopted of kiln-drying the corn and straw in the sheaf, previous 

 to the stacking ; and it appears to have been attended with such remarkable 

 success, that it imitated in this country, there can be no doubt of its being 

 found advantageous in many exposed parts, where the farmers sufier 

 groatlv from the lateness of the harvest. The kiln used for that purpose is 

 a simple and cheaplv-erected structure, the walls of which are 8 feet high 

 and 15 feet square within. At this height there are two strong cross- 

 beams to support the small limbers laid over them as ribs ; the corn stands 

 in sheaves above these ribs, closelv set up — the band-ends of the sheaves 

 down, and the corn or grain-ends up : the walls then rise above the ribs 

 about 5 or 6 feet more, the kiln being closed by a simple ceiling of cross- 

 joists, covered with turf. The floor contains about 25 stooks of corn, or 

 300 sheaves, which are put on of an evening — after the wood which is 

 usually employed to heat the kiln has been burned to charcoal — and the 

 straw is generally found in a dry state on the following morning. It may 

 then be stacked with perfect safety; for all danger of its becoming either 

 heated or mouldy is thereby prevented, and it is in the best possible con- 

 dition for the flail.* The construction of the old British round kiln might 

 be very easily adapted to the same purpose by raising the walls of the floor 

 to a competent height above the ribs ; but it would evidently require to be 

 much larger when intended to dry both straw and grain. The expense of 

 such a building would however be very trifling ; for the frame could be put 

 togetlier of rough materials, and the walls might be filled in with clay or 

 turf, while any ordinary roof will serve as a covering ; and, in countries 

 where peat is plenty, the charge of firing would not amount to much. 



GLEANING. 



A custom has existed, time immemorial, in this country, of allowing the 

 neighbouring poor to gather the scattered ears of corn which are left upon 

 the ground after the grain is harvested, and when that is peaceably con- 

 ducted, and not attempted until the entire crop has been carried from the 

 fields, no rational objection can be opposed to it; but although it should 

 evidently rest upon the permission of the occupier of the land, it has yet 

 been assumed as a right to which the peasantry are entitled. In pursuance 

 of this, numbers of young and old, strangers as well as neighbours, often 

 enter the inclosures in defiance of the farmer, while the sheaves are still 

 upon the ground — generally indeed before they are bound ; and they not 

 unfrequently resort to violence if opposed. The work of harvest is thus 

 not onlv much impeded, but the practice holds out temptations to pilfering 

 from the sheaves, and habits are acquired by children, which they extend 

 durinw the winter to the ])lunder of turnips, potatoes, and other roots from the 

 fields. Regulations have indeed been promulgated on the subject by magis- 

 trates, and, were they strictly enforced, the evil might be remedied ; but it 

 seems equally absurd in principle, as unjust between man and man, to 

 afl'ord the apparent guarantee of the law to sucli a pretended right as that of 

 enterinffa farmer's property for the ostensible purpose of gleaning. It is, 

 in fact, clearly a trespass, which he ought to repel, by force if necessary, 

 until every sheaf be cleared ; then, doubtless, every man of common hu- 

 manity ought to throw open his fields to the poor; but it should be entirely 

 left to his own discretion. 



* See the Farm. Mag., vol. xviii, p. 385, in which are engravings of the elevation and 

 sections of the kihi. 



