AUGUST. 443 



to stand till it be fully ripened, both in straw and 

 berry, that there may be required the less portion 

 of time to leave it abroad after it be cut ; and, if 

 barley be not mown till it has attained this utmost 

 degree of maturity, and is not greatly encumbered 

 with weeds or grass, the swarths may be immedi- 

 ately forked up* after the scythe, and carried straight 

 into the barn. It is by no means prudent to fork or 

 rake a greater number of shocks in a day tban can 

 be conveniently housed before night, as the shocks 

 will be sooner injured by the rain, than the corn 

 which lies in the state wherein the scythe had left 

 it: neither is it convenient to pursue the mowing 

 of the several fields of this grain in too quick suc- 

 cession, lest a glut of rain should ensue, which 

 might prevent the housing of it for a week, or 

 perhaps longer, which would not only render the 

 barley of an ill colour, but cause great part of it 

 to spear, besides reducing the value of the straw; 

 whereas in its pristine state it will take little da- 

 mage whilst it remains upright, but \\hcii much 

 lodged, a succession of wet weather will promote 

 the growth of those ears which may come in con- 

 tact with the earth. A lodged crop of barley, 

 therefore, ought to be mown in the first dry time, 

 when the berry hath attained its full growth. 



" The consideration of the great damage which 

 may accrue to this grain in a wet harvest, ought 

 to be a further inducement with the farmer to sow 

 early, for such forward sowing will (cceteris pari- 

 proceed with greater celerity towards ripen- 

 ing, 



