474 SCIENCE OF AGRICULTURE. Part IL 



after the land has l>een left in a dry state for a week or ten days. The work should be 

 performed lengthwise of the panes, going up one side of the trenches and down the other. 

 And in the case of rolling the common hay lands, it is a good mode to proceed up one 

 side of the field and down the other, somewhat in a similar manner, as by that means the 

 work may be the most completely executed. 



3030. Horse-raking, or the collecting the scattered straws of corn or hay crops by the 

 rake, is an operation of little art or trouble in the execution. The proper implement 

 being employed, it is generally drawn by one horse, conducted by a man, who walks 

 behind, and when the rake fills, lifts it up without stopping the horse, and always 

 at the same place, so as to deposit the rakings in regular rows across the field. The 

 same mode is followed whether in raking hay, corn, stubble, or weeds from fallow 

 grounds. 



3031. Driving carts and waggons, though the easiest of all operations, is very fre- 

 quently shamefully performed by servants. Almost every body knows this ; and it is 

 humiliating to consider that we are considered the most inhuman nation in Europe in 

 our treatment of horses. In most other countries these animals, and even oxen, are 

 taught to obey the word of the driver ; but in Britain he requires both halter or rein, 

 and a whip ; and in most parts of England the slightest movement from right to left is 

 indicated to the animal by the latter implement. Driving is more especially neglected, 

 or wretchedly performed, near large towns, and especially round London, where little or 

 no attention is paid to avoiding the ruts ; choosing the best part of the road ; going in a 

 direct line ; altering the position of the load (by means of the back chain or the construc- 

 tion of the cart where that admits of it) in going up or down hill ; or seeing whether 

 both horses (where two are used) , draw equally. The reverse of this conduct ought to 

 be that of a careful and humane driver, who being first certain that his cattle are pro- 

 perly yoked and his load fairly adjusted so as to be neither too heavy nor too light for 

 the wheel or shaft horse, will see that they proceed along the best part of the road in a 

 straight line, avoiding the ruts when deep or unequal that all the horses draw equally 

 as far as practicable that proper care and tim.ely precautions be taken to avoid other 

 machines meeting or passing, and that no sudden motion or jerk of the horses, be re- 

 quired on any occasion. In dividing tlie road where it is steep or in a bad state, the 

 horses ought to be drawn aside gradually, and gradually led on again ; it being easier 

 to descend or ascend either a good or bad convex road obliquely, than at an acute angle. 

 Lastly, servants ought on no account to be allowed to ride on laden carts or waggons, 

 especially the former ; or to walk at a distance from them either before or behind. There 

 are many other points which require attending to in this department of agriculture, such 

 as not striking animals on the head or legs ; nor kicking them, or using a pole or handle 

 of any implement that may be at hand, in administering chastisement ; but these must be 

 left to the care and discretion of masters, whose interest it is to be most vigilant in 

 watching those who are engaged in this department. 



3032. One mode of lessening the evils of careless driving and inhumanity to animals, consists in employ- 

 ing chiefly married servants, and as is generally the case, letting each have the exclusive care and working 

 of one pair of horses. Such men are steadier, and remain much longer in their situations than single men, 

 and arc therefore more likely to feel an interest in the welfare and good condition of their horses, as well 

 as in the good opinion of their employer. 



3033. Driving cattle in a threshing machine required particular care before the inge- 

 nious invention described (2638.) to equalize the draught of the different animals ; where 

 this invention is applied it requires, little more than speaking to such of the cattle as have 

 a tendency to relax in their exertions. 



Sect. III. Labors and Operations with the Crop. 



3034. Labors with the crop, chiefly comprise stacking and housing. 



3035. Stacking is the operation of building or piling up unthreshed corn, hay, straw, or 

 other dried crops in convenient forms, and so as to admit of their being thatched as a 

 defence from the weather. Stacks are of various forms and dimensions, according to 

 circumstances ; in some districts they are formed square or oblong, both for liay and 

 corn ; but where threshing machines are in use, the circular base with cylindrical body, 

 diverging a little at the eaves, and a conical top, is decidedly preferred, as being more conve- 

 nient in size and form, and better adapted for early stacking in wet seasons than any other. 

 For hay the form of the stack is a matter of less consequence ; the long square or oblong 

 shapes, are perhaps the most safe and convenient, especially when not too broad, as 

 they are the most suitable to cut from in trussing hay for sale. 



3036. In respect to the sizes of corn-stacks of the square sort, they of course vary greatly 

 according to circumstances ; but they should never be made too large, as there is a great 

 deal more risk in securing and getting in the grain from themj and from their being built 

 at different times, they do not settle altogether in so perfect a manner, or resist the effects 

 of the weather and keep the grain so well as those of less dimensions that can be com- 

 pleted at once : and in addition, they are less convenient in the threshing out, especially 



