1909] Hand-thrashed Rye Straw in France 927 



the Departments of the Pas de Calais and the Nord, a con- 

 siderable portion of the cereal crops is thrashed by hand 

 because the small producers have not sufficient material for a 

 thrashing machine, and also because it is cheaper to employ 

 hand labour, which is available throughout the winter. The 

 principal reason, however, is because the straw which is 

 thrashed by hand is a veiy much more remunerative article 

 than if it is machine-thrashed. This applies particularly to 

 rye straw, and to such an extent that many large farmers who 

 could easily hire, or even own, a thrashing machine, fre- 

 quently have all their rye thrashed by hand. The rye in 

 question grows luxuriantly under the favourable conditions 

 prevailing in this district, and has a very strong stem, which 

 frequently exceeds five feet in length. Wheat and oat straw 

 is also produced and prepared under the same conditions as 

 rye straw, but because of its shorter length does not pay so 

 well. 



The straw is placed on the local market in various forms. 

 It may be (1) machine-thrashed, or (2) hand-thrashed; and 

 hand-thrashed straw may be (a) combed, (b) uncombed, (c) 

 pressed into bales with the thin end of the sheaves turned in, 

 (d) straight pressed, i.e., entirely unbroken, or (e) manufac- 

 tured in various forms, e.g., stitched into mats, &c. 



The straw is combed in a very simple way, frequently 

 merely with the hand, or with a very short-handled wooden 

 rake, which is passed several times through the butt end of 

 the sheaf; or the sheaf may be taken by both hands and 

 pulled several times through a row of wooden prongs which, 

 pointing upwards, are firmly fixed to a trestle about four feet 

 in height. The same result is obtained by each method, i.e., 

 the loose sheaths or leaves which surround the stem are 

 removed, as well as the weeds, &c, which were cut and bound 

 with the sheaf. 



The importation of hand-thrashed rye straw into Great 

 Britain is permitted by special licence in each case, subject 

 to the condition, among others, that the straw shall be kept 

 separate from any live stock, and only be used for thatching 

 houses or buildings, or for saddlery purposes. 



