514 SCIENCE OF AGRICULTURE. Part II. 



the body which brings almost every muscle into action, and is in short one of the most 

 severe of agricultural labours. The chief art consists in cutting the crop as close to the 

 surface of the ground as possible, and perfectly level, pointing the swaths well out so as 

 to leave scarcely any ridges under them. In the mowing of grain crops, scythes shorter 

 in the blade than the common ones, and to which either a cradle or two twigs of ozicr 

 put semicircular-wise into holes made in the handles near the blades, in such a manner 

 that one semicircle intersects the other, are made use of. Commonly, in mowing barley, 

 oats, or other grain, the corn is on the right hand of the workman ; but M. de Lisle 

 adopted something like the Hainauit method of mowing wheat (2479.), in which the 

 corn was at his left hand : he mowed it inwards, bearing the corn he cuts on his scythe, 

 till it comes to that which is standing, against which it gently leans. After every 

 mower a gatherer follows, who may be a lad, or a woman. Tlie gatherer keeps within 

 five or six feet of the mower, and being provided either with a hook or stick about two 

 feet long, gathers up the corn, making it into parcels, and laying it gently on the 

 ground ; this must be done with speed, as another mower immediately follows, and to 

 every mower there is a particular gatherer. To do this work properly, the mower 

 should fonn but one track with his feet, advancing in a posture nearly as if he was going 

 to fence, one foot chasing the other. In this manner the standing corn is mowed ; and 

 the workman should take care to have the wind at his left, as it bears the corn towards 

 the scythe, and causes it to be cut nearer the ground. When wheat is bent, the work- 

 man takes the corn as it presents itself to him, which has the same effect as if the wind 

 was at his left side. When it is laid, it is more troublesome to the gatherer, because 

 the cut corn is apt to be mixed with that which is standing ; but a good mower takes 

 the advantage of the wind, and cuts it against the way it is laid. No particular direc- 

 tions can be given for corn that is lodged and entangled, unless it be to take it as it is 

 inclined, as if the wind were on the back of the mower 



3167. The usual method of mowing grai?i is the same as for grass, the scythe only 

 having a cradle or bow fixed upon the heel of the handle. (Jig. 226.) In the " prac- 

 tice of most districts, the scythe is swung horizontally or nearly level, leaving the 

 stubble of almost an even height ; or if it rise on either side, forming what are called 

 swath-balks : the butts of the swaths are suffered to rest upon them, the heads or ears of 

 the corn falling into the hollow or close mown part of the preceding swath width. They 

 are of course liable, in a wet season, not only to receive an undue portion of rain water, 

 but to be fouled with the splashings of heavy showers. But in the Kentish practice, 

 which is said to excel those of other districts, the position of the swaths is different. 

 Here, the heads of the corn rest on the top of the swath-balk, provincially the beever, 

 which is left of extraordinary height, as ten to fifteen inches ; so that the wind has a free 

 circulation beneath the swaths. The workman, in performing this judicious operation, 

 proceeds with liis right foot forward, entering the point of his scythe with a downward 

 stroke, and raising it as abruptly out, bringing the handle round to the left until it forms 

 nearly a right angle with the line of the swath, carrying the corn in the cradle three or 

 four feet behind the place where it grew, lifting it high, and letting it fall on the beever 

 behind his left foot, and in the position above described. The disadvantages of this, 

 method are, the loss of some straw, the incumbrance arising from the length of stubble, 

 and a little additional labour ; but in a district where cattle are not numerous, the loss 

 of straw is not felt, and in any country the principle of laying the heads instead of 

 the butts of the corn upon the swath-balk, whether left high or low, might be well 

 adopted." 



3168. In the cutting of grass crops for the purpose of being conveited into hay, it is. 

 necessary that they be in the most suitable states of growth and maturity for affording 

 the best and most nutritious fodder. With this view they should neither be cut at too 

 early a period, nor suffered to stand too long ; as in the former case there will be consider- 

 able loss in the drying, from the produce being in so soft and green a condition, and in 

 the latter from a large proportion of the nourishing properties being expended. Grass, 

 before it becomes in full flower, while the rich saccharine juice is in part retained at the 

 joints of the flower-stems, is in the most proper condition for being cut down, as at that 

 period it must contain the largest proportion of nutritious matter ; but in proportion as 

 the flowers expand and the seeds ripen, the juice is taken up to constitute the meal or 

 starch of the seed lobes, and is thus either dispersed upon the land, or fed upon by birds ; 

 the grass stems with their leaves being left in a similar situation to that of the straw of 

 ripened grain. But there are other circumstances, besides those of ripeness, to be 

 attended to in determining the period of cutting crops of grass, as in some cases when 

 they are thick upon the ground the bottom parts become of a yellow colour before 

 the flowering fully takes place : under such circumstances it will often be the most 

 advisable practice to mow as soon as the v/eather will possibly admit ; for if this be 

 neglected, there will be great danger of its rotting, or at any rate of its acquiring a 

 disagreeable flavour, and of becoming of but little value. Where grass is very tall, as i% 



