352 MEADOWS. 



into bastard-cocks, arid the single wind -rows into 

 grass-cocks, as on the preceding days. 



Fourth Day. On this day, the great cocks just 

 mentioned, are usually carried before dinner. The 

 other operations of the day are such, and in the 

 same order, as before described, and are continued 

 daily until the hay harvest is completed. 



In the course of hay-making, the grass should, 

 as much as possible, be protected both day and 

 night, against rain and dew, by cocking. Care 

 should also be taken to proportion the number of 

 haymakers to that of the mowers, so that there 

 may not be more grass in hand, at any one time, 

 than can be managed according to the foregoing 

 process. This proportion is about 2O haymakers 

 (of which number 12 may be women) to four 

 mowers : the latter are sometimes taken half a day 

 to assist the former. But in hot, windy, or very 

 drying weather, a greater proportion of haymakers 

 will be required than when the weather is cloudy 

 and cool. 



It is particularly necessary to guard against spread- 

 ing more hay than the number of hands can get into 

 cock the same day,- or before rain. In showery 

 and uncertain weather, the grass may sometimes 

 be suffered to lie three, four, or even five days in 

 swath. But before it 1 long enough for the 



under side of the swath to become yellow (which, 

 if suffered to lie long, would be the case), parti- 

 cular care should be taken to turn the swaths 'with 

 the heads of the rakes. In this state it will cure 



so 



