579 



DECEMBER. 



THRASHING. 



THE thrashers must be kept constantly at 

 work throughout this month, that the cattle feed- 

 ing on straw may have a regular supply. Many 

 farmers, who keep large stocks of lean or dry cat- 

 tle, are attentive to thrashing out their worst straw 

 first, and the best last, proceeding upon the same 

 gradation through the winter, that every change of 

 straw may be for the better. This is a just con- 

 duct, and cannot fail of having good effects on the 

 cattle, who, it is well known, often fall away in 

 their looks on a change of straw that is the least 

 for the worse. The wheat shonl.l, upon these 

 principles, be thrashed first, as that makes the worst 

 fodder ; next the oats, then the barley, and lastly, 

 the barley or oats that had much clover mown with 

 them ; for, in wet seasons, the clover rises so high, 

 that the straw is almost as good as hay. There is 

 but little trouble in attending at harvest, to lay the 

 corn so as you may begin with what you please, and 

 the advantages to the straw -fed cattle certainly are 

 great. 



The thrasheYs should always be chosen from the 

 labourers with some care : they should be honest, 

 or the farmer will suffer much, if he does not watch 

 them narrowly, as they may have many opportuni- 

 ties of stealing corn. 



p p 2 A thrash- 



