136 



EG } */> TL I X A GRICUL TURE. 



sharpening of the blade is performed on a grindstone and, 

 during use, the edge is kept keen by means of a whet-stone. 

 The manner of using the scythe is as follows : 



The workman stands close to the crop to be cut with 

 his feet about sixty centimetres apart. Grasping the 

 handles, he swings the scythe to the right then, reversing 

 the direction, keeping the blade level and as close to the 



Fi;. 35. THR SCYTHE. 



ground as possible without coming in contact with it, he 

 allows the point to enter the standing crop and brings 

 the blade with a sweep in front of him thus describing a 

 semi-circle. While swinging the scythe to his right, 

 empty, he moves forward about thirty centimetres, equi- 

 valent to the depth of his previous cut and repeats the 

 process. A man can cut from three-quarters to one feddan 

 of berseem per day. 



