402 AGRICULTURE. 



length as possible. When there is a scarcity of hay, they cut 

 low, that the straw may be added to the chaff." 



A reaping machine, used in the plains of Gaul, is mentioned 

 by both Pliny and Palladius, which is thus described by the 

 latter : " In the plains of Gaul they use this quick way of reap- 

 ing, and, without reapers, cut large fields with an ox in one day : 

 for this purpose a machine is made, carried upon two wheels ; 

 the square surface has boards erected at the side, which, sloping 

 outwards, make a wider space above. The board on the fore 

 part is lower than the others ; upon it there are a great many 

 small teeth, wide set in a row, answering to the height of the 

 ears of grain, and turned upward at the ends. On the back part 

 of this machine two short shafts are fixed, like the poles of a 

 litter ; to these an ox is yoked, with his head to the machine, 

 and the yoke and traces likewise turned the contrary way ; he 

 is well trained and does not go faster than he is driven. When 

 this machine is pushed through the standing grain, all the ears 

 are comprehended by the teeth, and heaped up in the hollow 

 part of it, being cut off from the straw which is left behind, the 

 driver setting it higher or lower as he finds it necessary ; and 

 thus by a few goings and returnings the whole field is reaped. 

 This machine does very well in plain and smooth fields, and in 

 places where there is no necessity for feeding with straw." 



The Romans did not bind their grain into sheaves, as is 

 customary in northern climates. When cut off it was sent 

 directly to the area to be threshed ; or, if the ears were, only 

 cropped, sent in baskets to the barn. Among the Jews, Egyp- 

 tians, and Greeks, the grain was bound in sheaves ; at least, 

 some kinds were so treated, as appears from the story of Ruth, 

 "gleaning among the sheaves"; of Joseph's dream in which 

 his " sheaf arose " ; and from the harvest represented by Homer, 

 on one of the compartments of Achilles' shield. Reapers were 

 set in bands, on the opposite side of the field, and worked 

 towards the centre. As the land was plowed in the same 

 manner, from the sides to the middle, there was an open furrow 

 left there, to which the reapers hastened in the way of compe- 

 tition. A reaper was expected to cut down a jugerum of wheat 

 in a day and a half ; of barley, legumes, and clover, in one day ; 

 and of flax, in three days. 



