THE WHEAT CROP. 



51 



This experiment, as far as it goes, is quite in favour of 

 cutting wheat before it is perfectly ripe. It shows that 

 when cut ten days before it is ripe the gross produce of 

 grain is greater the yield of flour is increased, and 

 the proportion of bran diminished, while the propor- 

 tion of gluten contained in the flour appears also to be at 

 its maximum compared with its proportion at an earlier 

 or later period of the growth of the grain. 



Having satisfied ourselves as to the period at which 

 the grain should be harvested, the next point for con- 

 sideration is the means by which it should be effected. 

 Here, again, a great discrepancy of existing practices 

 presents itself, and a wide margin of comparative profit or 

 loss is a natural consequence. The sickle, the scythe, and 

 the reaping machine, each hold their sway in different 

 districts, the sickle districts being generally more or less 

 marked by the continued use of the antiquated flail, while 

 the steam-like powers of the reaping machine are followed 

 up by that of the combined steam thrashing machine. 



It may be a matter of opinion as to which method does 

 the work best ; but the question of cost of each assumes 

 more definite features, which remove it beyond the influ- 

 ence of opinion, and leave it to be opposed by the 

 prejudices only of the district. Let us see how these three 

 methods compare with each other. 



The sickle is clearly the most ancient, as, notwithstand- 

 ing the different conditions of the agriculturists of the 



