Implements of Husbandry. 117 



whereas, by these instruments, the seed may be dibbled into 

 the very centre of the^fl^, or furrow-slice, (two rows in each), 

 and the plant has thus a better hold of the ground. But 

 whenever the soil has any mixture of clay, the dibbling of 

 wheat has an injurious effect on the soil, which stints the 

 growth of the plants ( l79 ). In Gloucestershire, they dibble 

 beans and pease, and many consider it a better plan than 

 drilling them, unless in loamy soils ( I8 ). The bean drill, 

 however, on strong clays, answers the purpose effectually, 

 and with more expedition. 



3. Implements for reaping Corn. 



Crops are cut down, by British farmers, by the sickle, 

 the reaping-hook, or the scythe. 



The sickle is light and narrow, and has teeth ; the hook 

 is heavy and broad, and has a smooth edge. Respecting 

 the comparative merits of these tools, there was formerly a 

 difference of opinion ; but it is now generally admitted, that, 

 for the operations of what is technically called reaping^ those 

 with teeth, are preferable to the smooth ones, owing to the 

 time required in sharpening the latter ; for those with teeth, 

 may be employed for several weeks without being sharpen- 

 ed, and the smooth ones require sharpening several times in 

 an hour. Where the art of bagging is introduced ( l81 ), the 

 hook without teeth is indispensable. But in the fen coun- 

 tries, they reap oats, and sometimes barley, by the hook, 

 the straw being long, and the crop often much inclined, the 

 work could not be commodiously executed with sickles. 



The expense of cutting down by the scythe, is less than 

 by the sickle ; and, in a wet season, corn cut down by the 

 scythe is more easily harvested, or is less apt to heat in the 

 stack-yard. The celebrated Culley preferred the scythe for 

 barley. It is, however, objected to that instrument, that it 

 does not lay the ears of the corn so regularly, as is done by 

 the reaping-hook. This is a great disadvantage where the 

 thrashing-mill is employed, as the corn should be put into 

 the mill as straight and regular as possible. 



A method of reaping, new to us, has lately been introdu- 

 ced from Flanders. It is executed in the following manner : 

 The reaper carries in his left hand, a stick with an iron 

 hook, with which he collects as much grain as he can cut at 

 one sweep, with a short scythe which he holds in his right 

 hand. By practice, they are able to carry on this double 

 process, with great spirit and dexterity ( I8i )- Cradle scythes 



