438 



AUGUST. 



j<, -HARVEST-MEN. 



THE agreements with harvest-men, in various 

 parts of the kingdom, are extremely different, and 

 even in the same place there are many variations, 

 some farmers pursuing one method, and some an- 

 other. A common way in certain districts, is to agree 

 with the men for all, by the acre; to reap or mow, 

 turn, shock, make, .cart, stack or barn, drive, &c. 

 &c. ; to do all the business of the harvest, in short, 

 at so much per acre ; this is a very good way ; but 

 it requires a man to be almost as watchful as day- 

 work ; for a very strict eye should be had to the 

 manner in which every thing is done; that the men 

 do not cut the corn at improper times; that they 

 take proper care to turn it after rain, and to get it 

 perfectly dry into the barn. A pretty sharp atten* 

 ' tion will be requisite to these points, and many 

 , others. On the other hand, when the work is 

 done by the day^ month, or week, it requires con- 

 stant attention, early and late, to see that the men 

 work their hours; and that upon carrying, in du- 

 bious weather, they work as long as they can see, 

 unless the dews are heavy ; for it is a maxim in 

 most countries, that men are not to talk of hours 

 in harvest, but to do whatever they are ordered. 

 In many counties, it is the custom to board the 



harvest* 



