WEST DEVONSHIRE. 



isi 



11. The method of THRASHING 

 WHEAT, in this Diilricfl, and throughout 

 the Wefl of England, is too lingular to be 

 pafTed without notice. While llraw con- 

 tinues to be ufed as thatch, the pradice is 

 highly profitable. 



The objed of this method of Thralliing 

 (which is applicable to rye, as well as to 

 wheat), is to extract the grain from the 

 ear, with the leail poffible injury to the 

 flraw. To this end, the ears are either 

 thraflied lightly with the flail, or they are 

 beaten aero fs a cailc, by hand; until the 

 grain be got pretty well out of them. If 

 the corn is fmutty, the latter is. the more 

 eligible method. 



The next operation is to fufpend the 

 fliraw, in large double handfuls, in a ihort 

 rope, fixed high above the head, with an 

 iron hook at the loofe end of it -, which is 

 put twice round the little Hieaflet, jufl 

 below the ears, and failened with the hook's 

 laying hold of the tight part of the rope. 

 The left hand being now firmly placed 

 upon the hook, and pulling downward, fo 

 as to twitch the ftraw hard, and prevent 

 N 3 the 



