feet. ir. THE COUNTY OF FIFE. 163 



times early oats are sown as late as the begin- 

 ning of May on warm dry ground. 



5/, Culture while Growing. No culture 

 given, except taking out thistles and other large 

 weeds, during the summer months, with the 

 hand, or with the weed hook. 



6//6, Harvest. The time of cutting oats va- 

 ries according to the difference of seasons, and 

 of climate. They begin, in general, to be cut 

 about the beginning of September, and are finish- 

 ed in four, five, or fix weeks, according to cir- 

 cumstances. In early seasons, oats are ripe in 

 some places a fortnight sooner, and on the high 

 cold grounds, and in late seasons, they are not 

 ready before the beginning or middle of Octo- 

 ber, and sometimes later. 



Oats are universally cut with the sickle, andput 

 up in shocks (provincially stoo&s) of 1 2 sheaves, 

 two of which are used for the covering. This 

 mode of drying, or winning oats, as well as wheat 

 and barley, is perhaps the best that can be devised, 

 when executed with skill and care. The great 

 object is to put up the stook in such a manner as 

 completely to turn off the rain, and to stand fast 

 in blowing weather. For this purpose the sheaves 

 ought to be made as equal in size, and as square 

 at the bottom as possible. In setting them up, 

 the bandster ought to give them a firm seat on 

 the ground, with the bottom neither too close, 

 nor too much separated, gently and equally in- 

 clining to each other, and meeting close at the 

 top. The covering sheaves ought to be well 

 opened at the root knot, and properly spread 

 down on each side, to grasp the upright sheaves 

 as close as possible, and with a proper inclina- 



X 2 



