7. YORKSHIRE. 37 



affifting, or at leaft offering their fervices to 

 affifl in forwarding the bufinefs of the day. 

 But to make fure of hands for the more la- 

 borious departments, men and women are 

 previoufly retained with wages over and 

 above the fpoils of the feaft. 



Alfo previous to the day of thralhing, a 

 " rape cloth," <f carrying-cloths," and 

 other neceffaries, are to be provided. The 

 cloths are in the hands of a few men, who 

 let them out at fo much a day, or fo much 

 an acre. A rape cloth of the largeft fize 

 meafures twenty yards fquare : weighing 

 more than half a Jon weight. Heffen is the 

 ufual material of which it is made. Thr 

 hire of fuch a cloth 15 s. day. 



Alfo before the thrafhing, the rape and the 

 ftubble are to be removed off the place (or 

 places, if the piece be large) where the 

 thrafhing-floor is to be made; the clods be- 

 ing taken off, and the hallows filled up where 

 the cloth is intended to be laid. 



The bufinefs qf the day i? thus conduced : 



The men are divided into carriers, thraih- 



ers, and floor-men. Women fill the carrying. 



cloths j and boys hold them while filling. 



D 3 Thefe 



