CHAP. XI. STRAW USED AS rROVENDEll. 9-5 



The trihulum *, whicli was sometimes used by 

 the Romans, appears not to have been very dissi- 

 milar, as we learn from Varro t, who describes it as 

 *' a frame made rough by stones or pieces of iron, 

 on wliich the driver, or a great weight, was placed ; 

 and this being drawn by beasts yoked to it, pressed 

 out the grain from the ear." 



While some were employed in collecting the 

 grain and depositing it in the granary, others ga- 

 thered the long stubble from the field, and pre- 

 pared it as provender to feed the horses and cattle ; 

 for which purpose it was used by the Romans t, as 

 by the modern Egyptians. They probably pre- 

 ferred reaping the corn close to the ear, in order to 

 facilitate the trituration; and afterwards cutting the 

 straw close to the ground, or plucking it by the 

 roots, they chopped it up for the cattle ; and this, 

 with dried clover (the drees of modern Egypt), 

 was laid by for autumn, when the pastures being 

 overflowed by the Nile, the flocks and herds 

 were kept in sheds or pens on the high grounds, or 

 in the precincts of the villages. § 



The straw was doubtless cut up, as at the present 

 day, by some contrivance answering to our hay 

 knife, and cleansed from the earth, dust, or other im- 

 purities, previous to use; being 'Svinnowed with the 

 shovel, and with the fan," in the manner mentioned 

 by Isaiah ll, when speaking of *' provender" given 

 to cattle. This custom of feeding some of their 



* Virg. Georg. i. 164. f Var. de Re Rustica, i. 52. 



X Plin. xviii. 30. § Dioclor. i. ;JG. 



II Isaiah, xxx. 24. " n'^TOIlT Dnil-" Conf. Matt. iii. 12. 



