TOOLS AND RURAL INDUSTRIES 187 



The threshing of corn on the barn floor was one of the 

 happiest of country sights and sounds. From after harvest 

 to the spring of the next year, stored in the ample bays of 

 the barn, it could bo threshed out as it was wanted, hand- 

 winnowed, and put away in the granary. 



The granaries themselves of the older fashion are 

 beautiful buildings. I am thankful that on many farms they 

 are still standing, though buildings so perfectly in harmony 



Flail, Curb-Chain, and Large Sheep-Bell 



with the sentiment of rural English life are now rarely 

 erected. They are usually over a waggon-shed, carried upon 

 short piers with rat-proof caps of stone or oak. Rough 

 stone steps lead up to the granary door and add much to 

 the pictorial value of the building. One of them is shown 

 at p. 36. 



Indeed, in these sad days of cheap building, and corru- 

 gated iron roofing, and machinery, one looks in vain for many 

 of the lost beauties of country life. Women, gleaning in 

 the harvest-field — ' leasing ' as they used to call it — are now 



