Of Reaping. 353 



3. Bagging. 



This is a practice, principally confined to the counties of 

 Middlesex and Surrey, where it has been adopted, with a 

 view of securing an increased quantity of straw. This it 

 does, to the amount of from 4s. to 7s. per acre. In De- 

 vonshire, the crops are chopped down, in a similar manner, 

 so as to leave hardly any stubble ( l85 ). It is done by a 

 toothless reaping hook, of about twice the weight of a com- 

 mon sickle, which is sharpened as often as is necessary. 

 The operation is performed by cutting the crop down by a 

 succession of blows, made within two or three inches of the 

 ground. It is, in fact, mowing with one hand, against the 

 standing corn. By bagging, the straw is cut much closer 

 to the ground, than is generally done by hand-reaping ( l86 ). 

 There is little or no difference of expense between bagging 

 and common sickle reaping, whilst it is equally expeditious. 

 Beans are usually bagged as well as wheat. The expense of 

 bagging, is generally about fifteen shillings per acre; but it 

 varies from twelve to twenty shillings, according to the bulk 

 and condition of the crop ( l87 ). 



It would appear, that the mode of reaping, as executed 

 by Welsh labourers, in the counties of Hereford and Salop, 

 is the most perfect, and the cheapest, of perhaps any hitherto 

 known. It is performed by an instrument, a little longer 

 than the common sickle, and about double the breadth, 

 without teeth, but sharpened like a scythe. This sickle is 

 known by the name of the Cardigan hooky which may be 

 purchased at Ludlow, and all other towns in that neighbour- 

 hood, for 2s. 8d. each. With the hook, a whetstone is 

 bought for 3d. This mode of reaping is equally applicable 

 to wheat, barley, oats, beans, and pease. The reaper, bears 

 up what he cuts against the standing corn, with one arm 

 and leg, pushing it before him, until he gets about half a 

 sheaf. It is cut down close to the ground. In the harvest 

 of 1818, the common price given, was 4s. 6d. per statute 

 acre, the employer finding food, drink and lodging; but 

 when these are not furnished, the usual price is, from seven 

 to eight shillings per acre for wheat; and for that sum, the 

 reaper not only cuts, but binds up the grain. The general 

 adoption of so useful a system cannot be too much recom- 

 mended ( I88 ). 



The Flemish mode of cutting grain, by a stick with an iron 

 hook, and a short scythe, has been already described ( IB9 ). 



