us 



THE "VTHEAT CULTUPvIST. 



The qnestion is frequently asked why a cradle scythe 

 is made broader from the back to the cutting edge, than 

 a grass scyrhe f The object of this is twofold. The 

 first is to snppoit the grain after it is cnt off; and sec- 

 ond, to foiTiish ample room for the straw to shde back 

 from the cutting edge, against the fingers, after it has 

 been cut oft*. If a scythe, no wider than a grass scythe, 

 is attached to a cradle, as soon as the space from the 

 fingers to the cutting edge is filled with straw, the 

 scythe cannot cut off any more straw ; therefore, as the 

 cradle is ^* faU.'^ it must slide over the rest of the clip. 



If tlie fijigers do not correspond with the curve of tlie 

 scythe, a cradle will not work well, even if the scythe 

 is made acc : r v>.^ :o the most perfect pattern. Fig. 55 

 represents a ^: of the same form as Fig. 54. The 

 object of it is to show the relative length and cm-vature 

 of the fij-st finger of the cradle, when compared with 

 the form of the scythe. The inside of the finger shouUi 



ri&. 55— BesT form ;.r.: : i:- - :: ±z~i7. 



extend at least two inches beyond the :: the scythe; 



and it is best to have the finger from one to two inches 

 shorter than the scythe. The small end should stand 

 over the point of the scythe, as represented in the 

 figure, and be frcm one to two inches above the blade 

 at the point. If the fii^st finger rests hard on the scythe, 

 it sometimes prevents the grain dischargiuo: freely when 



