352 Of Reaping. 



son to be dissatisfied, if he can get it done for about 15s. per 

 statute acre. 



2. Mowing by the Scythe. 



This instrument is frequently made use of for cutting oats 

 and barley ; and in some districts of Kent and Norfolk, it is 

 even used for wheat ; but it does not answer, when the land 

 is foul ( I8 *) The scythe is either plain, or furnished with a 

 bow, or cradle, to assist in laying the heads more regularly 

 in one direction. The late celebrated George Culley main- 

 tained, that this was the most complete mode of cutting down 

 barley ; that when properly mown, it could be neatly tied 

 up in sheaves, and could be thrashed by a machine, though 

 not so completely as if in sheaves. Whenever the crop 

 however, is much lodged, or irregularly broken down, or 

 interwoven by squalls of wind, or heavy rains, the scythe 

 cannot act with efficacy, or even with safety. The use of 

 the scythe therefore, is only admissible, when the corn stands 

 upright, or with a regular inclination, or nearly so, in one 

 direction ( l83 ). But the use of the scythe is objected to on 

 the following grounds : 1. When clover, or any other grass, 

 has been sown with the crop of corn, the scythe will cut 

 nearly all the grass that has grown, which, mingled with 

 the stems of the corn, in so large a proportion, must render 

 the harvesting extremely hazardous. 2. It has a more slo- 

 venly appearance in the field. 3. It is more difficult, with a 

 load of grass, to put the crop in shocks, or stocks, and 

 the operation is more wasteful. 4. The crop cannot be so 

 easily, or so safely stacked. 5. It requires more time in 

 carrying, and greater space for housing than reaped corn ; 

 and, 6. It cannot be well thrashed by the flail, and it re- 

 quires a good machine to thrash mown wheat clean. 



A comparison has been made, between the expense of 

 reaping by the sickle, and cutting down by the scythe. By 

 the sickle, it would cost about 12s. per English acre, for 

 barley, and 15s. for wheat. By the scythe, it could be cut 

 down at least 2s. cheaper, and with from two to four addi- 

 tional inches of straw, the manure from which will be 

 worth from 4s. to 7s. ( l84 ). It may be added however, that 

 it is practicable to obtain nearly as much straw, by the sic- 

 kle, as by the scythe, provided the farmer is disposed to be- 

 stow the necessary time and attention upon the conduct of his 

 reapers, and will give them a moderate addition to their 

 wages, when the work is properly executed. 



